Share of male vs. female employment in services in South Africa
South Africa: Share of male vs. female employment in services was 64.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
64.8%
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
41st
of 186 countries
All-time high
64.9%
in 2021
All-time low
54.6%
in 2002
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Share of male vs. female employment in services in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of male vs. female employment in services in South Africa stood at 64.8%.
The figure is up 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of male vs. female employment in services in South Africa peaked at 64.9% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 54.6%, in 2002.
South Africa ranks 41st of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Share of male vs. female employment in services in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 57.7% | — |
| 1992 | 57.6% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 57.8% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 57.7% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 57.4% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 57.1% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 56.9% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 56.8% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 56.9% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 57.1% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 55.9% | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 54.6% | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 55.9% | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 55.5% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 57.7% | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 58.0% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 57.6% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 57.8% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 59.0% | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 60.4% | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 61.6% | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 62.1% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 61.5% | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 61.8% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 60.0% | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 60.9% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 61.3% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 61.5% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 63.0% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 64.7% | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 64.9% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 64.6% | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 64.9% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 64.9% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 64.8% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 57.3% | 56.8% | 57.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 56.9% | 54.6% | 59.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.4% | 60.0% | 63.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 64.8% | 64.6% | 64.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 38 New Caledonia 66.3% compare
- 39 Greece 65.7% compare
- 40 Japan 65.3% compare
- 42 Iraq 64.2% compare
- 43 New Zealand 64.0% compare
- 44 Saint Lucia 63.4% compare
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 services in South Africa?
- Share of male vs. female employment in services in South Africa was 64.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of male vs. female employment in services recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 64.9% in 2021.
- What is the lowest share of male vs. female employment in services recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.6% in 2002.
- How does South Africa rank for share of male vs. female employment in services?
- South Africa ranks 41st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of male vs. female employment in services rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.1%. 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, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of male vs. female employment in services. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of total employment working in the services sector.