Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in South Africa
South Africa: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 34.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
South Africa recorded 34.0% for unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in 2025.
The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year and up 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in South Africa peaked at 36.3% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 25.5%, in 2009.
South Africa ranks 4th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 27.1% | — |
| 1992 | 27.4% | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 27.3% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 27.0% | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 26.4% | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 26.1% | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 26.0% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 26.2% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 26.4% | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 26.2% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 26.0% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 25.9% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 26.0% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 25.9% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 25.8% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 25.6% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 25.5% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 25.7% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 25.5% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 26.9% | +5.7% |
| 2011 | 27.1% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 27.0% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 26.5% | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 27.0% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 27.5% | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 28.9% | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 29.2% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 29.0% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 30.5% | +5.0% |
| 2020 | 31.0% | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 36.3% | +17.1% |
| 2022 | 35.4% | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 34.6% | -2.3% |
| 2024 | 34.4% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 34.0% | -1.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 34.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7.5%, 4.5× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 34.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.1%, 5.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 26.7% | 26.0% | 27.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 25.8% | 25.5% | 26.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.0% | 26.5% | 30.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.3% | 31.0% | 36.3% | 6 |
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 unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in South Africa?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in South Africa was 34.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 36.3% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.5% in 2009.
- How does South Africa rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- South Africa ranks 4th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.