Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in South Africa
South Africa: Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) was 9.0% in 2016. ▼ Falling
Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in South Africa, 1991–2016
Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017.
Analysis
The most recent figure for own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in South Africa is 9.0%, measured in 2016.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 42.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in South Africa peaked at 15.7% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 8.5%, in 2014.
South Africa ranks 137th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 10.6% | — |
| 1992 | 13.1% | +23.1% |
| 1993 | 13.5% | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 13.8% | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 13.5% | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 13.9% | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 13.9% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 13.8% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 13.9% | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 13.8% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 13.8% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 13.9% | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 14.0% | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 13.4% | -4.6% |
| 2005 | 15.1% | +13.0% |
| 2006 | 15.7% | +4.0% |
| 2007 | 14.2% | -9.7% |
| 2008 | 11.4% | -19.5% |
| 2009 | 10.5% | -7.7% |
| 2010 | 10.6% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 10.2% | -3.8% |
| 2012 | 9.6% | -5.3% |
| 2013 | 9.4% | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 8.5% | -9.6% |
| 2015 | 9.0% | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 9.0% | -0.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 9.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 23.0%, 39% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 9.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 47.8%, 19% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.3% | 10.6% | 13.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 13.6% | 10.5% | 15.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.5% | 8.5% | 10.6% | 7 |
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 own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in South Africa?
- Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in South Africa was 9.0% in 2016, according to International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017.
- What is the highest own-account workers, female (% of female employment) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 15.7% in 2006.
- What is the lowest own-account workers, female (% of female employment) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.5% in 2014.
- How does South Africa rank for own-account workers, female (% of female employment)?
- South Africa ranks 137th out of 187 countries with data for 2016.
- Is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017, published as part of Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Own-account workers are workers who, working on their own account or with one or more more partners, hold the types of jobs defined as "self-employment jobs" and have not engaged on a continuous basis any employees to work for them. Own account workers are a subcategory of "self-employed".