Share of women in ministerial positions in South Africa
South Africa: Share of women in ministerial positions was 43.75 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of women in ministerial positions in South Africa, 2005–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of women in ministerial positions in South Africa is 43.75, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.5% on the previous year and up 17.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women in ministerial positions in South Africa peaked at 50 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 34.3, in 2010.
That places South Africa 18th out of 192 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Share of women in ministerial positions in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 41.4 | — |
| 2008 | 44.8 | +8.2% |
| 2010 | 34.3 | -23.4% |
| 2012 | 40 | +16.6% |
| 2014 | 37.1 | -7.2% |
| 2015 | 41.7 | +12.4% |
| 2016 | 41.7 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 48.6 | +16.5% |
| 2019 | 48.28 | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 48.28 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 48.15 | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 50 | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 43.75 | -12.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 43.75 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.91, 2.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 43.75 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 23.81, 1.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 43.1 | 41.4 | 44.8 | 2 |
| 2010s | 41.67 | 34.3 | 48.6 | 7 |
| 2020s | 47.54 | 43.75 | 50 | 4 |
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 women in ministerial positions in South Africa?
- Share of women in ministerial positions in South Africa was 43.75 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of women in ministerial positions recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 50 in 2023.
- What is the lowest share of women in ministerial positions recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.3 in 2010.
- How does South Africa rank for share of women in ministerial positions?
- South Africa ranks 18th out of 192 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of women in ministerial positions rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of women in ministerial positions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).