South Africa vs Spain: Labor force, female

South Africa
12.45 million
in 2025
Spain
11.68 million
in 2025
South Africa rank
23rd
Spain rank
25th

Labor force, female over time

  • South Africa
  • Spain
02.5M5.0M7.5M10.0M12.5M199020072025

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 12.45 million against 11.68 million in Spain, a difference of 774,000.

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

The two have swapped places 4 times across 36 shared years of data; in 1990 it was South Africa ahead.

South Africa ranks 23rd and Spain ranks 25th of 187 countries.

Across the 4 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 2 and Spain in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa Spain Difference Ahead
1990s 6.47 million 6.13 million 337,920 South Africa
2000s 8.55 million 8.59 million 43,344 Spain
2010s 9.88 million 10.63 million 744,111 Spain
2020s 11.45 million 11.20 million 247,883 South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher labor force, female, South Africa or Spain?
South Africa, at 12.45 million against 11.68 million in Spain as of 2025.
What is the difference in labor force, female between South Africa and Spain?
774,000, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Spain?
36 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2025.
How do South Africa and Spain rank globally for labor force, female?
South Africa ranks 23rd and Spain ranks 25th 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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South Africa vs Spain: 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 17 August 2026, from https://gender.statizoid.com/compare/labor-force-female/south-africa/spain/

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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.