Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) in South Africa
South Africa: Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (FTE) was 61.5% 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 61.5%, measured in 2022.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 15.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) in South Africa peaked at 62.4% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 42.9%, in 2005.
South Africa ranks 6th of 53 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 | 43.7% | — |
| 2003 | 51.1% | +17.2% |
| 2004 | 49.0% | -4.2% |
| 2005 | 42.9% | -12.4% |
| 2006 | 49.3% | +14.7% |
| 2007 | 48.4% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 44.0% | -9.1% |
| 2009 | 48.6% | +10.5% |
| 2010 | 62.4% | +28.3% |
| 2011 | 55.8% | -10.4% |
| 2012 | 53.4% | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 54.0% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 55.3% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 58.8% | +6.3% |
| 2016 | 56.0% | -4.7% |
| 2017 | 59.6% | +6.4% |
| 2018 | 61.2% | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 59.9% | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 57.9% | -3.4% |
| 2021 | 61.2% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | 61.5% | +0.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 61.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 40.8%, 1.5× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 47.1% | 42.9% | 51.1% | 8 |
| 2010s | 57.6% | 53.4% | 62.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.2% | 57.9% | 61.5% | 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 61.5% 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 62.4% in 2010.
- What is the lowest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.9% in 2005.
- How does South Africa rank for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (fte)?
- South Africa ranks 6th out of 53 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 15.2%. 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) - Private non-profit. 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