SDG indicator 5.5.2: Proportion of women in managerial positions in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: SDG indicator 5.5.2: Proportion of women in managerial positions was 36.91 in 2025. ▲ Rising
SDG indicator 5.5.2: Proportion of women in managerial positions in Southern Africa, 2000–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, sdg indicator 5.5.2: proportion of women in managerial positions in Southern Africa stood at 36.91. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 5.5.2: proportion of women in managerial positions in Southern Africa peaked at 36.91 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 20.15, in 2001.
Southern Africa ranks 35th of 87 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
SDG indicator 5.5.2: Proportion of women in managerial positions in Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 21.56 | — |
| 2001 | 20.15 | -6.5% |
| 2002 | 24.85 | +23.3% |
| 2003 | 24.89 | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 25.17 | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 28.21 | +12.1% |
| 2006 | 29.21 | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 30.97 | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 31.43 | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 31.81 | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 31.38 | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 32.53 | +3.7% |
| 2012 | 32.69 | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 31.86 | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 32.76 | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 32.34 | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 33.13 | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 33.77 | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 32.18 | -4.7% |
| 2019 | 31.82 | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 33.02 | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 33.06 | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 34.39 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 34.32 | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 36.08 | +5.1% |
| 2025 | 36.91 | +2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 26.82 | 20.15 | 31.81 | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.45 | 31.38 | 33.77 | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.63 | 33.02 | 36.91 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Southern Africa
More gender data for Southern Africa
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 20,374 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.5706 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 57,758 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 57,758 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.19 % change on previous year (2030)
- Inactivity rate (ILO modelled estimates) 43.89 (2027)
- SDG indicator 1.1.1: Working poverty rate 15.28 (2025)
- Number of seats held by women in national parliaments 274 (2026)
- Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments 35.8% (2026)
- Proportion of women aged 15-49 years with anaemia 31.0% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sdg indicator 5.5.2: proportion of women in managerial positions in Southern Africa?
- Sdg indicator 5.5.2: proportion of women in managerial positions in Southern Africa was 36.91 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 5.5.2: proportion of women in managerial positions recorded in Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 36.91 in 2025.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 5.5.2: proportion of women in managerial positions recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.15 in 2001.
- How does Southern Africa rank for sdg indicator 5.5.2: proportion of women in managerial positions?
- Southern Africa ranks 35th out of 87 groups with data for 2025.
- Is sdg indicator 5.5.2: proportion of women in managerial positions rising or falling in Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Southern Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of SDG indicator 5.5.2: Proportion of women in managerial positions (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Data may differ from nationally reported figures and the Global SDG Indicators Database due to differences in sources and/or reference years. The female share of employment in managerial positions conveys the number of women in management as a percentage of employment in management. Employment in management is defined based on the International Standard Classification of Occupations. This series refers to total management (category 1 of ISCO-08 or ISCO-88). There is another series referring to senior and middle management only, thus excluding junior management (category 1 in both ISCO-08 and ISCO-88 minus category 14 in ISCO-08 and minus category 13 in ISCO-88). This indicator is calculated based on data on employment by sex and occupation. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.