Share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union in South Africa
South Africa: Share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union was 42.6% in 2050. ▲ Rising
Share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union in South Africa, 2021–2050
Source: United Nations (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2050, share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union in South Africa stood at 42.6%. That is the highest value across all 30 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 20.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union in South Africa peaked at 42.6% in 2050 and was at its lowest, 33.3%, in 2023.
South Africa ranks 221st of 224 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 30 years of available data.
Share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 33.5% | — |
| 2022 | 33.4% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 33.3% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 33.3% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 33.3% | +0.0% |
| 2026 | 33.3% | +0.0% |
| 2027 | 33.3% | +0.0% |
| 2028 | 33.3% | +0.0% |
| 2029 | 33.4% | +0.3% |
| 2030 | 33.5% | +0.3% |
| 2031 | 33.7% | +0.6% |
| 2032 | 33.8% | +0.3% |
| 2033 | 33.9% | +0.3% |
| 2034 | 34.0% | +0.3% |
| 2035 | 34.1% | +0.3% |
| 2036 | 34.2% | +0.3% |
| 2037 | 34.4% | +0.6% |
| 2038 | 34.6% | +0.6% |
| 2039 | 34.9% | +0.9% |
| 2040 | 35.3% | +1.1% |
| 2041 | 35.7% | +1.1% |
| 2042 | 36.1% | +1.1% |
| 2043 | 36.7% | +1.7% |
| 2044 | 37.3% | +1.6% |
| 2045 | 38.0% | +1.9% |
| 2046 | 38.8% | +2.1% |
| 2047 | 39.6% | +2.1% |
| 2048 | 40.5% | +2.3% |
| 2049 | 41.5% | +2.5% |
| 2050 | 42.6% | +2.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 42.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 55.1%, 77% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 42.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 53.6%, 79% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 33.3% | 33.3% | 33.5% | 9 |
| 2030s | 34.1% | 33.5% | 34.9% | 10 |
| 2040s | 38.0% | 35.3% | 41.5% | 10 |
| 2050s | 42.6% | 42.6% | 42.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 218 Antigua and Barbuda 44.4% compare
- 218 French Guiana 44.4% compare
- 220 Guam 43.4% compare
- 222 Guadeloupe 42.1% compare
- 223 Eswatini 42.0% compare
- 224 Martinique 41.3% compare
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 women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union in South Africa?
- Share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union in South Africa was 42.6% in 2050, according to United Nations (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 42.6% in 2050.
- What is the lowest share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.3% in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union?
- South Africa ranks 221st out of 224 countries with data for 2050.
- Is share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of women aged 15–49 who are married, or who live with a partner without being married.