Female share of graduates from Science, Technology, Engineering and in South Africa

South Africa: Female share of graduates from Science, Technology, Engineering and was 49.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
49.2%
Change on year
up 4.8%
World rank
8th
of 113 countries
All-time high
49.2%
in 2023
All-time low
41.2%
in 2014
Years of data
10
2014–2023

Female share of graduates from Science, Technology, Engineering and in South Africa, 2014–2023

010203040502014201820232014: 41.2 %2015: 41.3 %2016: 41.9 %2017: 42.8 %2018: 43.5 %2019: 43.8 %2020: 46.2 %2021: 47.2 %2022: 46.9 %2023: 49.2 %

Source: World Bank. Measured in %.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 49.2% for female share of graduates from science, technology, engineering and in 2023. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.

That represents a change of up 4.8% on the previous year and up 19.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female share of graduates from science, technology, engineering and in South Africa peaked at 49.2% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 41.2%, in 2014.

That places South Africa 8th out of 113 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.

Female share of graduates from Science, Technology, Engineering and in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Female share of graduates from Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes, tertiary (%) in South Africa, 2014 to 2023.
Year % Change
2014 41.2%
2015 41.3% +0.2%
2016 41.9% +1.3%
2017 42.8% +2.1%
2018 43.5% +1.8%
2019 43.8% +0.8%
2020 46.2% +5.4%
2021 47.2% +2.2%
2022 46.9% -0.6%
2023 49.2% +4.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 42.4% 41.2% 43.8% 6
2020s 47.4% 46.2% 49.2% 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 5 North Macedonia 51.9% compare
  2. 6 Algeria 51.1% compare
  3. 7 Qatar 50.7% compare
  4. 9 Palestine 48.4% compare
  5. 10 Argentina 46.8% compare
  6. 11 United Arab Emirates 46.3% compare

See the full ranking of 113 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is female share of graduates from science, technology, engineering and in South Africa?
Female share of graduates from science, technology, engineering and in South Africa was 49.2% in 2023, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest female share of graduates from science, technology, engineering and recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 49.2% in 2023.
What is the lowest female share of graduates from science, technology, engineering and recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 41.2% in 2014.
How does South Africa rank for female share of graduates from science, technology, engineering and?
South Africa ranks 8th out of 113 countries with data for 2023.
Is female share of graduates from science, technology, engineering and rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 19.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from the World Bank, published as part of Female share of graduates from Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes, tertiary (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Female share of graduates from Science, Technology, Engineering and in South Africa. Statizoid. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/female-share-of-graduates-from-science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-stem/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Female share of graduates from Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes, tertiary (%)
Unit
%
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
113 places, 1,621 data points, 1998–2025
Last refreshed