Share of young women vs. men who are not in education, employment or training in South Africa
South Africa: Share of young women vs. men who are not in education, employment or training was 35.5% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of young women vs. men who are not in education, employment or training in South Africa, 2000–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 35.5% for share of young women vs. men who are not in education, employment or training in 2023.
The figure is down 3.1% on the previous year and up 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of young women vs. men who are not in education, employment or training in South Africa peaked at 42.1% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 33.1%, in 2015.
That places South Africa 13th out of 117 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 19 years of available data.
Share of young women vs. men who are not in education, employment or training in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 35.9% | — |
| 2001 | 39.6% | +10.5% |
| 2002 | 41.1% | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 42.1% | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 41.1% | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 39.5% | -4.0% |
| 2006 | 38.7% | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 37.8% | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 34.7% | -8.2% |
| 2014 | 33.9% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 33.1% | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 33.9% | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 33.8% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 34.2% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 34.3% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 33.8% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 34.6% | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 36.6% | +5.8% |
| 2023 | 35.5% | -3.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 35.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 25.1%, 1.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 35.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 26.1%, 1.4× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 39.5% | 35.9% | 42.1% | 8 |
| 2010s | 34.0% | 33.1% | 34.7% | 7 |
| 2020s | 35.2% | 33.8% | 36.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 181,739 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 339,638 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 410,708 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 407,696 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.50 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 7.52 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.119 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of young women vs. men who are not in education, employment or training in South Africa?
- Share of young women vs. men who are not in education, employment or training in South Africa was 35.5% in 2023, according to ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of young women vs. men who are not in education, employment or training recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 42.1% in 2003.
- What is the lowest share of young women vs. men who are not in education, employment or training recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.1% in 2015.
- How does South Africa rank for share of young women vs. men who are not in education, employment or training?
- South Africa ranks 13th out of 117 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of young women vs. men who are not in education, employment or training rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of young women vs. men who are not in education, employment or training. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of women aged 15–24 who are not in education, employment, or vocational training.