Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in South Africa
South Africa: Proportion of women in ministerial level positions was 40.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in South Africa, 2005–2025
Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Women in Politics. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 40.6% for proportion of women in ministerial level positions in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.1% on the previous year and down 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of women in ministerial level positions in South Africa peaked at 50.0% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 34.3%, in 2010.
South Africa ranks 22nd of 192 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 41.4% | — |
| 2008 | 44.8% | +8.2% |
| 2010 | 34.3% | -23.4% |
| 2012 | 40.0% | +16.6% |
| 2014 | 37.1% | -7.2% |
| 2015 | 41.7% | +12.4% |
| 2016 | 41.7% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 48.6% | +16.5% |
| 2019 | 48.3% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 48.3% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 48.1% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 50.0% | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 43.8% | -12.5% |
| 2025 | 40.6% | -7.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 40.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 16.2%, 2.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 40.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 21.8%, 1.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 43.1% | 41.4% | 44.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 41.7% | 34.3% | 48.6% | 7 |
| 2020s | 46.2% | 40.6% | 50.0% | 5 |
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 proportion of women in ministerial level positions in South Africa?
- Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in South Africa was 40.6% in 2025, according to Inter-Parliamentary Union. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Women in Politics.
- What is the highest proportion of women in ministerial level positions recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 50.0% in 2023.
- What is the lowest proportion of women in ministerial level positions recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.3% in 2010.
- How does South Africa rank for proportion of women in ministerial level positions?
- South Africa ranks 22nd out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of women in ministerial level positions rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Inter-Parliamentary Union. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Women in Politics, published as part of Proportion of women in ministerial level positions (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Women in ministerial level positions is the proportion of women in ministerial or equivalent positions (including deputy prime ministers) in the government. Prime Ministers/Heads of Government are included when they hold ministerial portfolios. Vice-Presidents and heads of governmental or public agencies are excluded.