Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in South Africa
South Africa: Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate was 63.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
63.8%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
125th
of 236 countries
All-time high
63.8%
in 2025
All-time low
42.1%
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in South Africa, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 63.8% for urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in South Africa peaked at 63.8% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 42.1%, in 1950.
South Africa ranks 125th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 42.1% | — |
| 1951 | 42.7% | +1.4% |
| 1952 | 43.3% | +1.4% |
| 1953 | 43.9% | +1.3% |
| 1954 | 44.4% | +1.2% |
| 1955 | 44.9% | +1.2% |
| 1956 | 45.4% | +1.0% |
| 1957 | 45.8% | +0.9% |
| 1958 | 46.2% | +0.8% |
| 1959 | 46.5% | +0.6% |
| 1960 | 46.7% | +0.5% |
| 1961 | 46.9% | +0.4% |
| 1962 | 47.0% | +0.3% |
| 1963 | 47.1% | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 47.3% | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 47.4% | +0.2% |
| 1966 | 47.5% | +0.2% |
| 1967 | 47.5% | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 47.6% | +0.2% |
| 1969 | 47.7% | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 47.8% | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 47.8% | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 47.9% | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 48.0% | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 48.0% | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 48.1% | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 48.1% | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 48.2% | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 48.2% | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 48.3% | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 48.4% | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 48.5% | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 48.6% | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 48.8% | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 49.0% | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 49.2% | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 49.6% | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 50.1% | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 50.7% | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 51.4% | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 52.0% | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 52.4% | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 52.7% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 52.9% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 53.1% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 53.3% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 53.6% | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 54.0% | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 54.7% | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 55.4% | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 56.3% | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 57.0% | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 57.7% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 58.4% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 59.1% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 59.8% | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 60.5% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 61.2% | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 61.8% | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 62.3% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 62.6% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 62.9% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 63.0% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 63.1% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 63.1% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 63.2% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 63.3% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 63.3% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 63.4% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 63.4% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 63.4% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 63.5% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 63.5% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 63.6% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 63.7% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 63.8% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 44.5% | 42.1% | 46.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 47.3% | 46.7% | 47.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 48.0% | 47.8% | 48.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 49.4% | 48.4% | 51.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 53.4% | 52.0% | 55.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 59.4% | 56.3% | 62.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 63.1% | 62.6% | 63.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.6% | 63.4% | 63.8% | 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 urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in South Africa?
- Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in South Africa was 63.8% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban population vs. female labor force participation rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 63.8% in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population vs. female labor force participation rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.1% in 1950.
- How does South Africa rank for urban population vs. female labor force participation rate?
- South Africa ranks 125th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population vs. female labor force participation rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.