Gender Inequality Index (GII) in South Africa
South Africa: Gender Inequality Index (GII) was 0.401 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Gender Inequality Index in South Africa, 1990–2022
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
In 2022, gender inequality index in South Africa stood at 0.401. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
That represents a change of down 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gender inequality index in South Africa peaked at 0.496 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 0.401, in 2021.
South Africa ranks 65th of 162 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Gender Inequality Index (GII) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.496 | — |
| 1991 | 0.493 | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 0.484 | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 0.479 | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 0.472 | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 0.468 | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 0.476 | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 0.477 | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 0.462 | -3.1% |
| 1999 | 0.45 | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 0.461 | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 0.451 | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 0.456 | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 0.463 | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 0.466 | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 0.455 | -2.4% |
| 2006 | 0.452 | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 0.454 | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 0.469 | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 0.456 | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 0.456 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.451 | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 0.439 | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 0.438 | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 0.439 | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 0.434 | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 0.42 | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 0.414 | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 0.407 | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 0.408 | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 0.403 | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 0.401 | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 0.401 | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.401 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.351, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.401 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.548, 73% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.4757 | 0.45 | 0.496 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4583 | 0.451 | 0.469 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.4306 | 0.407 | 0.456 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4017 | 0.401 | 0.403 | 3 |
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 inequality index in South Africa?
- Gender inequality index in South Africa was 0.401 in 2022, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest gender inequality index recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.496 in 1990.
- What is the lowest gender inequality index recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.401 in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for gender inequality index?
- South Africa ranks 65th out of 162 countries with data for 2022.
- Is gender inequality index rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Gender Inequality Index (GII). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
Data on five composite measures of gender equality.