Vulnerable employment, female (% of female employment) in South Africa
South Africa: Vulnerable employment, female (% of female employment) was 11.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Vulnerable employment, female (% of female employment) in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for vulnerable employment, female (% of female employment) in South Africa is 11.4%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 16.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, vulnerable employment, female (% of female employment) in South Africa peaked at 16.9% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 9.3%, in 2014.
That places South Africa 129th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Vulnerable employment, female (% of female employment) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 16.9% | — |
| 1992 | 16.9% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 16.9% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 16.7% | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 16.4% | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 16.0% | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 15.7% | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 15.4% | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 15.0% | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 14.7% | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 15.1% | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 14.6% | -3.3% |
| 2003 | 14.5% | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 13.7% | -5.2% |
| 2005 | 15.5% | +13.0% |
| 2006 | 14.8% | -4.4% |
| 2007 | 13.1% | -11.7% |
| 2008 | 12.8% | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 12.0% | -6.7% |
| 2010 | 11.6% | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 11.3% | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 10.6% | -5.6% |
| 2013 | 10.4% | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 9.3% | -10.2% |
| 2015 | 9.8% | +5.4% |
| 2016 | 9.7% | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 10.2% | +5.3% |
| 2018 | 10.2% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 10.6% | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 10.2% | -3.8% |
| 2021 | 10.3% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 10.4% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 10.6% | +2.8% |
| 2024 | 11.5% | +7.8% |
| 2025 | 11.4% | -0.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 11.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 30.5%, 37% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 11.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 79.1%, 14% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.2% | 15.0% | 16.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 14.1% | 12.0% | 15.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.4% | 9.3% | 11.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.7% | 10.2% | 11.5% | 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 vulnerable employment, female (% of female employment) in South Africa?
- Vulnerable employment, female (% of female employment) in South Africa was 11.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest vulnerable employment, female (% of female employment) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 16.9% in 1991.
- What is the lowest vulnerable employment, female (% of female employment) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.3% in 2014.
- How does South Africa rank for vulnerable employment, female (% of female employment)?
- South Africa ranks 129th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is vulnerable employment, female (% of female employment) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Vulnerable employment, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Vulnerable employment is contributing family workers and own-account workers as a percentage of total employment.