Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in South Africa
South Africa: Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) was 47.8% 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 47.8% for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in 2022. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in South Africa peaked at 47.8% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 38.7%, in 2001.
That places South Africa 33rd out of 74 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 | 38.7% | — |
| 2003 | 40.5% | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 41.2% | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 39.7% | -3.8% |
| 2006 | 44.5% | +12.1% |
| 2007 | 43.5% | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 43.7% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 44.0% | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 43.2% | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 43.9% | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 44.6% | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 44.0% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 44.8% | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 44.8% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 44.9% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 44.3% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 44.7% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 45.8% | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 46.8% | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 47.1% | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 47.8% | +1.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 47.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 51.4%, 93% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 47.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 29.7%, 1.6× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 42.0% | 38.7% | 44.5% | 8 |
| 2010s | 44.5% | 43.2% | 45.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.2% | 46.8% | 47.8% | 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 47.8% 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 47.8% in 2022.
- What is the lowest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.7% in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte)?
- South Africa ranks 33rd out of 74 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 7.2%. 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) - Higher education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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