SDG indicator 5.5.2: Proportion of women in senior and middle in South Africa
South Africa: SDG indicator 5.5.2: Proportion of women in senior and middle was 39.27 in 2024. ▲ Rising
SDG indicator 5.5.2: Proportion of women in senior and middle in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2024, sdg indicator 5.5.2: proportion of women in senior and middle in South Africa stood at 39.27. 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, sdg indicator 5.5.2: proportion of women in senior and middle in South Africa peaked at 39.27 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 22.5, in 2001.
South Africa ranks 33rd of 100 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.
SDG indicator 5.5.2: Proportion of women in senior and middle in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 22.58 | — |
| 2001 | 22.5 | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 25.57 | +13.6% |
| 2003 | 27.65 | +8.2% |
| 2004 | 26.83 | -3.0% |
| 2005 | 30.48 | +13.6% |
| 2006 | 31.4 | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 32 | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 31.46 | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 33.23 | +5.6% |
| 2010 | 32.05 | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 33.66 | +5.0% |
| 2012 | 34.77 | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 33.12 | -4.8% |
| 2014 | 34.29 | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 33.89 | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 35.73 | +5.5% |
| 2017 | 35.23 | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 33.94 | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 33.26 | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 35.07 | +5.4% |
| 2021 | 35.19 | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 36.53 | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 36.03 | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 39.27 | +9.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 39.27 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 38.14, 1.0× the median. (30 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 39.27 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.78, 1.3× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 28.37 | 22.5 | 33.23 | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.99 | 32.05 | 35.73 | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.42 | 35.07 | 39.27 | 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 sdg indicator 5.5.2: proportion of women in senior and middle in South Africa?
- Sdg indicator 5.5.2: proportion of women in senior and middle in South Africa was 39.27 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 5.5.2: proportion of women in senior and middle recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 39.27 in 2024.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 5.5.2: proportion of women in senior and middle recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.5 in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for sdg indicator 5.5.2: proportion of women in senior and middle?
- South Africa ranks 33rd out of 100 countries with data for 2024.
- Is sdg indicator 5.5.2: proportion of women in senior and middle 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 International Labour Organization, published as part of SDG indicator 5.5.2: Proportion of women in senior and middle management positions (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 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 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). There is another series referring to total management (category 1 of ISCO-08 or 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.