Share of female employment by economic sector in South Africa
South Africa: Share of female employment by economic sector was 3.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of female employment by economic sector in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of female employment by economic sector in South Africa is 3.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 10.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of female employment by economic sector in South Africa peaked at 7.4% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 3.2%, in 2014.
South Africa ranks 123rd of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of female employment by economic sector in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7.3% | — |
| 1992 | 7.4% | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 7.3% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 7.3% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 7.3% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 7.3% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 7.2% | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 7.2% | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 7.0% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 6.8% | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 5.9% | -12.5% |
| 2002 | 7.1% | +19.1% |
| 2003 | 6.0% | -14.9% |
| 2004 | 5.9% | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 4.5% | -23.5% |
| 2006 | 4.6% | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 4.3% | -6.3% |
| 2008 | 4.1% | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 3.7% | -11.4% |
| 2010 | 3.6% | -3.0% |
| 2011 | 3.5% | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 3.6% | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 3.5% | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 3.2% | -8.4% |
| 2015 | 4.3% | +32.1% |
| 2016 | 3.9% | -8.4% |
| 2017 | 3.8% | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 3.9% | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 3.8% | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 4.0% | +4.6% |
| 2021 | 3.7% | -6.0% |
| 2022 | 4.0% | +6.8% |
| 2023 | 4.0% | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 3.8% | -3.9% |
| 2025 | 3.8% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.2% | 7.0% | 7.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.3% | 3.7% | 7.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.7% | 3.2% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.9% | 3.7% | 4.0% | 6 |
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)
- 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)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 588,323 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 594,743 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 603,304 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of female employment by economic sector in South Africa?
- Share of female employment by economic sector in South Africa was 3.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of female employment by economic sector recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 7.4% in 1992.
- What is the lowest share of female employment by economic sector recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.2% in 2014.
- How does South Africa rank for share of female employment by economic sector?
- South Africa ranks 123rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of female employment by economic sector rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of female employment by economic sector. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of total employment working in the agriculture sector.