Proportion of women in senior and middle management positions - 13th in South Africa

South Africa: Proportion of women in senior and middle management positions - 13th was 39.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
39.3%
Change on year
up 9.0%
World rank
31st
of 102 countries
All-time high
39.3%
in 2024
All-time low
22.5%
in 2001
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Proportion of women in senior and middle management positions - 13th in South Africa, 2000–2024

0102030402000201220242000: 22.62001: 22.52002: 25.62003: 27.62004: 26.82005: 30.52006: 31.42007: 322008: 31.52009: 33.22010: 322011: 33.62012: 34.82013: 33.12014: 34.32015: 33.92016: 35.72017: 35.22018: 33.92019: 33.32020: 35.12021: 35.22022: 36.52023: 362024: 39.3

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

In 2024, proportion of women in senior and middle management positions - 13th in South Africa stood at 39.3%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.0% on the previous year and up 14.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of women in senior and middle management positions - 13th in South Africa peaked at 39.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 22.5%, in 2001.

South Africa ranks 31st of 102 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.

Proportion of women in senior and middle management positions - 13th in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of women in senior and middle management positions - 13th ICLS (%) in South Africa, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 22.6%
2001 22.5% -0.4%
2002 25.6% +13.6%
2003 27.6% +8.1%
2004 26.8% -3.0%
2005 30.5% +13.6%
2006 31.4% +3.0%
2007 32.0% +1.9%
2008 31.5% -1.7%
2009 33.2% +5.6%
2010 32.0% -3.6%
2011 33.6% +5.0%
2012 34.8% +3.3%
2013 33.1% -4.7%
2014 34.3% +3.5%
2015 33.9% -1.2%
2016 35.7% +5.4%
2017 35.2% -1.4%
2018 33.9% -3.7%
2019 33.3% -2.0%
2020 35.1% +5.4%
2021 35.2% +0.3%
2022 36.5% +3.8%
2023 36.0% -1.4%
2024 39.3% +9.0%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 39.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 38.1%, 1.0× the median. (29 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 39.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 35.0%, 1.1× the median. (12 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 28.4% 22.5% 33.2% 10
2010s 34.0% 32.0% 35.7% 10
2020s 36.4% 35.1% 39.3% 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 28 Mongolia 40.5% compare
  2. 29 Guatemala 39.8% compare
  3. 30 Australia 39.4% compare
  4. 32 Finland 39.2% compare
  5. 33 Bulgaria 39.1% compare
  6. 34 El Salvador 39.0% compare

See the full ranking of 103 places →

More gender data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of women in senior and middle management positions - 13th in South Africa?
Proportion of women in senior and middle management positions - 13th in South Africa was 39.3% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of women in senior and middle management positions - 13th recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 39.3% in 2024.
What is the lowest proportion of women in senior and middle management positions - 13th recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 22.5% in 2001.
How does South Africa rank for proportion of women in senior and middle management positions - 13th?
South Africa ranks 31st out of 102 countries with data for 2024.
Is proportion of women in senior and middle management positions - 13th rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 14.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of women in senior and middle management positions - 13th ICLS (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of women in senior and middle management positions - 13th in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://gender.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-women-in-senior-and-middle-management-positions-13th-icls-percent/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of women in senior and middle management positions - 13th ICLS (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
103 places, 1,742 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed