Gender Development Index in South Africa
South Africa: Gender Development Index was 0.996 in 2023. ▬ Flat
Gender Development Index in South Africa, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gender development index in South Africa is 0.996, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gender development index in South Africa peaked at 0.997 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.952, in 2008.
South Africa ranks 38th of 179 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.9698 | 0.958 | 0.978 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.9661 | 0.952 | 0.997 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9726 | 0.959 | 0.987 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9852 | 0.967 | 0.996 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More gender data for South Africa
- 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)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 588,323 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 594,743 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 603,304 (2025)
- Age population, age 04, female, interpolated 607,639 (2025)
- Age population, age 04, male, interpolated 607,041 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gender development index in South Africa?
- Gender development index in South Africa was 0.996 in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gender development index recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.997 in 2000.
- What is the lowest gender development index recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.952 in 2008.
- How does South Africa rank for gender development index?
- South Africa ranks 38th out of 179 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gender development index rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gender Development Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The Gender Development Index (GDI) measures gender inequalities in the achievement of key dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, a good education, and a decent standard of living.