Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in South Africa
South Africa: Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) was 52.5% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in South Africa, 2001–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in South Africa is 52.5%, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
The figure is up 4.0% on the previous year and up 14.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in South Africa peaked at 52.5% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 37.2%, in 2003.
That places South Africa 19th out of 71 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 | 38.4% | — |
| 2003 | 37.2% | -2.9% |
| 2004 | 39.9% | +7.2% |
| 2005 | 40.8% | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 40.0% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 39.9% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 40.5% | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 40.5% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 44.9% | +10.8% |
| 2011 | 46.0% | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 46.0% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 46.4% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 46.0% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 46.1% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 46.9% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 51.2% | +9.2% |
| 2018 | 48.5% | -5.2% |
| 2019 | 48.9% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 49.7% | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 50.5% | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 52.5% | +4.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 52.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 52.5%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 52.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 37.5%, 1.4× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 39.6% | 37.2% | 40.8% | 8 |
| 2010s | 47.1% | 44.9% | 51.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.9% | 49.7% | 52.5% | 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 52.5% 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 52.5% in 2022.
- What is the lowest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.2% in 2003.
- How does South Africa rank for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte)?
- South Africa ranks 19th out of 71 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 14.0%. 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) - Government. 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