Share of female workers by sector in South Africa
South Africa: Share of female workers by sector was 3.8 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of female workers by sector in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of female workers by 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 workers by sector in South Africa peaked at 7.35 in 1992 and was at its lowest, 3.22, 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 workers by sector in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7.25 | — |
| 1992 | 7.35 | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 7.34 | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 7.31 | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 7.3 | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 7.26 | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 7.2 | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 7.16 | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 7.02 | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 6.77 | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 5.93 | -12.5% |
| 2002 | 7.06 | +19.1% |
| 2003 | 6.01 | -14.9% |
| 2004 | 5.91 | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 4.52 | -23.5% |
| 2006 | 4.56 | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 4.27 | -6.3% |
| 2008 | 4.13 | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 3.66 | -11.4% |
| 2010 | 3.55 | -3.0% |
| 2011 | 3.46 | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 3.59 | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 3.52 | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 3.22 | -8.4% |
| 2015 | 4.25 | +32.1% |
| 2016 | 3.9 | -8.4% |
| 2017 | 3.79 | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 3.89 | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 3.79 | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 3.96 | +4.6% |
| 2021 | 3.72 | -6.0% |
| 2022 | 3.98 | +6.8% |
| 2023 | 3.96 | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 3.8 | -3.9% |
| 2025 | 3.8 | -0.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 3.8 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.64, 33% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 3.8 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44.81, 8% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of female workers by sector in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +32.1% | 3.22 | 4.25 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.24 | 7.02 | 7.35 | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.28 | 3.66 | 7.06 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.7 | 3.22 | 4.25 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.87 | 3.72 | 3.98 | 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)
- 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 share of female workers by sector in South Africa?
- Share of female workers by sector in South Africa was 3.8 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of female workers by sector recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 7.35 in 1992.
- What is the lowest share of female workers by sector recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.22 in 2014.
- How does South Africa rank for share of female workers by sector?
- South Africa ranks 123rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of female workers by 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Share of female workers by sector. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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