Labor force, female in South Africa
South Africa: Labor force, female was 12.45 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, female in South Africa, 1990–2025
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, female in South Africa stood at 12.45 million. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 22.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in South Africa peaked at 12.45 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.57 million, in 1990.
South Africa ranks 23rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, female in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5.57 million | — |
| 1991 | 5.73 million | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 5.90 million | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 5.96 million | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 6.14 million | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 6.51 million | +5.9% |
| 1996 | 6.85 million | +5.2% |
| 1997 | 7.15 million | +4.4% |
| 1998 | 7.34 million | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 7.54 million | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 7.75 million | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 7.95 million | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 8.16 million | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 8.36 million | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 8.55 million | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 8.71 million | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 8.87 million | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 9.01 million | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 9.16 million | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 8.96 million | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 8.77 million | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 8.97 million | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 9.16 million | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 9.51 million | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 9.72 million | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 10.16 million | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 10.26 million | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 10.56 million | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 10.75 million | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 10.98 million | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 10.18 million | -7.3% |
| 2021 | 10.67 million | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 11.26 million | +5.5% |
| 2023 | 11.90 million | +5.7% |
| 2024 | 12.26 million | +3.0% |
| 2025 | 12.45 million | +1.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 12.45 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.49 million, 8.4× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 12.45 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.51 million, 5.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.47 million | 5.57 million | 7.54 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.55 million | 7.75 million | 9.16 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.88 million | 8.77 million | 10.98 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.45 million | 10.18 million | 12.45 million | 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 labor force, female in South Africa?
- Labor force, female in South Africa was 12.45 million in 2025, according to World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division.
- What is the highest labor force, female recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 12.45 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.57 million in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for labor force, female?
- South Africa ranks 23rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures 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 part of Labor force, female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
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.