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 39th of 183 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Gender Development Index in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.975 | — |
| 1991 | 0.978 | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 0.974 | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 0.971 | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 0.973 | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 0.975 | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 0.972 | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 0.96 | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 0.958 | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 0.962 | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 0.997 | +3.6% |
| 2001 | 0.972 | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 0.972 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.966 | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 0.961 | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 0.958 | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 0.958 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.969 | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 0.952 | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 0.956 | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 0.962 | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 0.968 | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 0.972 | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 0.977 | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 0.982 | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 0.97 | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 0.987 | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 0.983 | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 0.966 | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 0.959 | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 0.967 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 0.982 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 0.996 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.996 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.9835, 1.0× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.996 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.924, 1.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
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
- 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 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 39th out of 183 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.