Kenya vs South Africa: Labor force, female

Kenya
11.71 million
in 2025
South Africa
12.45 million
in 2025
Kenya rank
24th
South Africa rank
23rd

Labor force, female over time

  • Kenya
  • South Africa
4.0M6.0M8.0M10.0M12.0M199020072025

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 12.45 million against 11.71 million in Kenya, a difference of 738,900.

That makes South Africa's figure about 1.1 times Kenya's.

Across all 36 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.

Kenya ranks 24th and South Africa ranks 23rd of 187 countries.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Kenya South Africa Difference Ahead
1990s 4.89 million 6.47 million 1.58 million South Africa
2000s 6.99 million 8.55 million 1.55 million South Africa
2010s 9.46 million 9.88 million 423,397 South Africa
2020s 10.86 million 11.45 million 596,550 South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher labor force, female, Kenya or South Africa?
South Africa, at 12.45 million against 11.71 million in Kenya as of 2025.
What is the difference in labor force, female between Kenya and South Africa?
738,900, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Kenya and South Africa?
36 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2025.
How do Kenya and South Africa rank globally for labor force, female?
Kenya ranks 24th and South Africa ranks 23rd of 187 countries.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division, published as Labor force, female. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Kenya vs South Africa: Labor force, female. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division. Retrieved 19 August 2026, from https://gender.statizoid.com/compare/labor-force-female/kenya/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force, female
Source
World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
234 places, 8,410 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed

Female labor force comprises women ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.