Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (%) in South Africa
South Africa: Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (%) was 111.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (%) in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT at https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/.
Analysis
In 2024, ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (%) in South Africa stood at 111.9%. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (%) in South Africa peaked at 128.6% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 111.9%, in 2024.
That places South Africa 89th out of 155 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (%) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 120.0% | — |
| 2001 | 116.4% | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 120.1% | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 117.1% | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 127.0% | +8.5% |
| 2005 | 128.6% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 128.0% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 127.6% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 120.6% | -5.5% |
| 2009 | 116.1% | -3.7% |
| 2010 | 114.4% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 119.0% | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 119.0% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 115.8% | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 115.1% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 118.5% | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 122.0% | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 119.9% | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 119.5% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 116.0% | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 115.6% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 114.8% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 113.4% | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 112.7% | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 111.9% | -0.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 111.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 129.5%, 86% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 111.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 121.7%, 92% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 122.1% | 116.1% | 128.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 117.9% | 114.4% | 122.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 113.7% | 111.9% | 115.6% | 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 ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (%) in South Africa?
- Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (%) in South Africa was 111.9% in 2024, according to World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT at https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/.
- What is the highest ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (%) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 128.6% in 2005.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (%) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 111.9% in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (%)?
- South Africa ranks 89th out of 155 countries with data for 2024.
- Is ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (%) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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, ILOSTAT at https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/, published as part of Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (%) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Ratio of female to male youth unemployment is the percentage of female to male youth unemployment rates.