Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in South Africa
South Africa: Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) was 41.4% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in South Africa, 2001–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 41.4% for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in 2022.
The figure is up 7.1% on the previous year and up 10.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in South Africa peaked at 43.2% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 19.4%, in 2001.
That places South Africa 8th out of 59 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 19.4% | — |
| 2003 | 25.7% | +32.5% |
| 2004 | 27.0% | +5.0% |
| 2005 | 29.2% | +8.1% |
| 2006 | 27.6% | -5.3% |
| 2007 | 27.6% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 28.5% | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 29.3% | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 32.4% | +10.6% |
| 2011 | 31.9% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 37.6% | +17.8% |
| 2013 | 39.3% | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 39.6% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 38.7% | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 41.2% | +6.5% |
| 2017 | 40.5% | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 43.2% | +6.7% |
| 2019 | 38.9% | -10.0% |
| 2020 | 41.1% | +5.8% |
| 2021 | 38.7% | -5.9% |
| 2022 | 41.4% | +7.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 41.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 34.4%, 1.2× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 26.8% | 19.4% | 29.3% | 8 |
| 2010s | 38.3% | 31.9% | 43.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.4% | 38.7% | 41.4% | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More science & technology data for South Africa
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 179.34 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.79 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 114.79 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 89.37 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 4.56 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 5.88 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 14,949 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0002 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in South Africa?
- Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in South Africa was 41.4% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 43.2% in 2018.
- What is the lowest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.4% in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte)?
- South Africa ranks 8th out of 59 countries with data for 2022.
- Is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) - Business enterprise. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 21 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release