Share of male vs female employment in services in South Africa
South Africa: Share of male vs female employment in services was 64.85 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
64.85
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
41st
of 186 countries
All-time high
64.92
in 2021
All-time low
54.58
in 2002
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Share of male vs female employment in services in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, share of male vs female employment in services in South Africa stood at 64.85.
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 64.92 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 54.58, 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 | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 57.65 | — |
| 1992 | 57.58 | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 57.78 | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 57.74 | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 57.38 | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 57.12 | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 56.91 | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 56.85 | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 56.92 | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 57.06 | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 55.91 | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 54.58 | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 55.88 | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 55.47 | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 57.69 | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 58.03 | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 57.57 | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 57.79 | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 59.04 | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 60.43 | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 61.6 | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 62.06 | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 61.48 | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 61.8 | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 59.99 | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 60.85 | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 61.32 | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 61.46 | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 63.01 | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 64.66 | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 64.92 | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 64.57 | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 64.85 | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 64.85 | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 64.85 | -0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 64.85 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 52.13, 1.2× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 64.85 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.53, 1.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 57.33 | 56.85 | 57.78 | 9 |
| 2000s | 56.9 | 54.58 | 59.04 | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.4 | 59.99 | 63.01 | 10 |
| 2020s | 64.78 | 64.57 | 64.92 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 38 New Caledonia 66.26 compare
- 39 Greece 65.69 compare
- 40 Japan 65.34 compare
- 42 Iraq 64.17 compare
- 43 New Zealand 64.04 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 64.85 in 2025, according to 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 64.92 in 2021.
- What is the lowest share of male vs female employment in services recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.58 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 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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