Female share of low pay earners (Our World) in South Africa
South Africa: Female share of low pay earners (Our World) was 49.54 in 2015. ▲ Rising
Female share of low pay earners in South Africa, 2000–2015
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 49.54 for female share of low pay earners in 2015.
That represents a change of down 2.2% on the previous year and up 32.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female share of low pay earners in South Africa peaked at 50.68 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 34.62, in 2002.
That places South Africa 34th out of 70 countries with data for 2015, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Female share of low pay earners (Our World) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 41.08 | — |
| 2001 | 35.18 | -14.4% |
| 2002 | 34.62 | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 34.62 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 36.68 | +5.9% |
| 2005 | 37.55 | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 37.56 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 38.33 | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 49.74 | +29.8% |
| 2011 | 49.31 | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 50.4 | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 50.21 | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 50.68 | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 49.54 | -2.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 49.54 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 47.53, 1.0× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 49.54 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 43.97, 1.1× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Female share of low pay earners (Our World) in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +29.8% | 38.33 | 49.74 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 36.95 | 34.62 | 41.08 | 8 |
| 2010s | 49.98 | 49.31 | 50.68 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More gender data for South Africa
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 17,151 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.6591 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 51,011 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 51,011 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.07 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 570,099 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 589,533 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 570,599 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 589,626 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 569,634 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female share of low pay earners in South Africa?
- Female share of low pay earners in South Africa was 49.54 in 2015, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female share of low pay earners recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 50.68 in 2014.
- What is the lowest female share of low pay earners recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.62 in 2002.
- How does South Africa rank for female share of low pay earners?
- South Africa ranks 34th out of 70 countries with data for 2015.
- Is female share of low pay earners rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.0%. 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 Female share of low pay earners. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).