Gender gap in the share of Self-employed people in [industry]: Total in South Africa

South Africa: Gender gap in the share of Self-employed people in [industry]: Total was -4.93 % in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
-4.93 %
Change on year
down 53.1%
World rank
35th
of 60 countries
All-time high
-3.22 %
in 2022
All-time low
-14.92 %
in 2000
Years of data
23
2000–2024

Gender gap in the share of Self-employed people in [industry]: Total in South Africa, 2000–2024

-15-12.5-10-7.5-5-2.52000201220242000: -14.9 %2001: -10.4 %2002: -8.5 %2003: -7.3 %2004: -7.7 %2005: -9.6 %2006: -11.9 %2007: -10.2 %2009: -5.9 %2010: -6.6 %2011: -8.2 %2012: -4.7 %2013: -7.9 %2014: -6.5 %2015: -3.2 %2016: -4 %2017: -3.7 %2018: -3.6 %2019: -3.9 %2020: -3.3 %2021: -3.4 %2022: -3.2 %2024: -4.9 %

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for gender gap in the share of self-employed people in [industry]: total in South Africa is -4.93 %, measured in 2024.

The figure is down 53.1% on the previous year and up 24.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, gender gap in the share of self-employed people in [industry]: total in South Africa peaked at -3.22 % in 2022 and was at its lowest, -14.92 %, in 2000.

South Africa ranks 35th of 60 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.

Gender gap in the share of Self-employed people in [industry]: Total in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Gender gap in the share of Self-employed people in [industry]: Total AFSemployment — Value — All age ranges or no breakdown by age — National — Agrifood systems in South Africa, 2000 to 2024.
Year % Change
2000 -14.92 %
2001 -10.39 % -30.4%
2002 -8.52 % -18.0%
2003 -7.26 % -14.8%
2004 -7.66 % +5.5%
2005 -9.59 % +25.2%
2006 -11.89 % +24.0%
2007 -10.18 % -14.4%
2009 -5.89 % -42.1%
2010 -6.57 % +11.5%
2011 -8.21 % +25.0%
2012 -4.71 % -42.6%
2013 -7.9 % +67.7%
2014 -6.52 % -17.5%
2015 -3.23 % -50.5%
2016 -4 % +23.8%
2017 -3.73 % -6.8%
2018 -3.63 % -2.7%
2019 -3.93 % +8.3%
2020 -3.32 % -15.5%
2021 -3.41 % +2.7%
2022 -3.22 % -5.6%
2024 -4.93 % +53.1%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's -4.93 % is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -2.35 %, 2.1× the median. (24 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's -4.93 % is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -4.96 %, 99% of the median. (12 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s -9.59 % -14.92 % -5.89 % 9
2010s -5.24 % -8.21 % -3.23 % 10
2020s -3.72 % -4.93 % -3.22 % 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 32 Philippines -2.82 % compare
  2. 33 Ghana -3.07 % compare
  3. 34 Brazil -4.6 % compare
  4. 36 Uganda -4.96 % compare
  5. 37 Angola -4.97 % compare
  6. 38 India -6.04 % compare

See the full ranking of 67 places →

More agriculture & rural data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is gender gap in the share of self-employed people in [industry]: total in South Africa?
Gender gap in the share of self-employed people in [industry]: total in South Africa was -4.93 % in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest gender gap in the share of self-employed people in [industry]: total recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was -3.22 % in 2022.
What is the lowest gender gap in the share of self-employed people in [industry]: total recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was -14.92 % in 2000.
How does South Africa rank for gender gap in the share of self-employed people in [industry]: total?
South Africa ranks 35th out of 60 countries with data for 2024.
Is gender gap in the share of self-employed people in [industry]: total rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 24.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Gender gap in the share of Self-employed people in [industry]: Total AFSemployment — Value — All age ranges or no breakdown by age — National — Agrifood systems. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Gender gap in the share of Self-employed people in [industry]: Total in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://agriculture.statizoid.com/stat/gender-gap-in-the-share-of-self-employed-people-in-industry-total-afsemployment-value-all/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Gender gap in the share of Self-employed people in [industry]: Total AFSemployment — Value — All age ranges or no breakdown by age — National — Agrifood systems
Unit
%
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
67 places, 1,000 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed

The Suite of Gender Indicators presents a set of indicators relevant to agrifood systems that are disaggregated by sex, with the aim of highlighting gender differences across agrifood systems. The initial set of indicators is based on those used in FAO’s 2023 Status of Women in Agrifood Systems (SWAFS) report and on the recommendations of an expert consultation held in December 2023, and covers key dimensions including economic participation, governance, agency, social norms, assets and services, education, health, and nutrition. Indicator selection was informed by expert judgment and by the availability of data with sufficient geographic and temporal coverage to enable meaningful comparisons across regions and over time. While most indicators are produced and published by FAO and other international organizations, the objective of this domain is to provide a one-stop shop for sex-disaggregated data on agrifood systems.