Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Africa
South Africa: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) was 80.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Africa, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Africa is 80.8%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Africa peaked at 80.8% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 63.0%, in 1990.
South Africa ranks 85th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 63.0% | — |
| 1991 | 63.3% | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 63.2% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 63.6% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 63.7% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 63.3% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 63.2% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 63.6% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 64.5% | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 65.5% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 66.7% | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 67.9% | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 69.2% | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 70.4% | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 71.5% | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 72.5% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 73.2% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 73.9% | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 74.4% | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 74.2% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 73.7% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 75.2% | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 74.9% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 76.3% | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 76.4% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 76.8% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 76.5% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 77.4% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 77.7% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 77.6% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 76.7% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 76.7% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 78.0% | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 79.8% | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 80.6% | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 80.8% | +0.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 80.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 71.8%, 1.1× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 80.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 86.1%, 94% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 63.7% | 63.0% | 65.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 71.4% | 66.7% | 74.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 76.2% | 73.7% | 77.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 78.8% | 76.7% | 80.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More work & labour data for South Africa
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.242 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2122 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.8748 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 58,057 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 14,698 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 49,126 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 45,189 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 94,314 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Africa?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Africa was 80.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 80.8% in 2025.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 63.0% in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%)?
- South Africa ranks 85th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.