Share of male vs female employment in industry in South Africa
South Africa: Share of male vs female employment in industry was 28.4 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
28.4
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
66th
of 186 countries
All-time high
35.67
in 2007
All-time low
27.85
in 2021
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Share of male vs female employment in industry in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of male vs female employment in industry in South Africa is 28.4, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and down 14.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of male vs female employment in industry in South Africa peaked at 35.67 in 2007 and was at its lowest, 27.85, in 2021.
South Africa ranks 66th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of male vs female employment in industry in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 31.69 | — |
| 1992 | 31.7 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 31.51 | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 31.59 | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 32.05 | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 32.43 | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 32.77 | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 32.94 | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 33.07 | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 33.22 | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 33.87 | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 34.15 | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 33.64 | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 35.28 | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 35.11 | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 35.19 | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 35.67 | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 35.62 | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 34.88 | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 33.86 | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 33.02 | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 32.26 | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 32.44 | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 32.52 | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 33.39 | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 32.34 | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 32.27 | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 32.42 | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 30.57 | -5.7% |
| 2020 | 28.68 | -6.2% |
| 2021 | 27.85 | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 28.64 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 28.41 | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 28.37 | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 28.4 | +0.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 28.4 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 26.91, 1.1× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 28.4 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.76, 1.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 32.19 | 31.51 | 33.07 | 9 |
| 2000s | 34.66 | 33.22 | 35.67 | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.51 | 30.57 | 33.86 | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.39 | 27.85 | 28.68 | 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 share of male vs female employment in industry in South Africa?
- Share of male vs female employment in industry in South Africa was 28.4 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of male vs female employment in industry recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 35.67 in 2007.
- What is the lowest share of male vs female employment in industry recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.85 in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for share of male vs female employment in industry?
- South Africa ranks 66th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of male vs female employment in industry rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of male vs female employment in industry. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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