Researchers (HC) - % Female in South Africa

South Africa: Researchers (HC) - % Female was 47.6% in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
47.6%
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
33rd
of 107 countries
All-time high
47.6%
in 2022
All-time low
36.0%
in 2001
Years of data
21
2001–2022

Researchers (HC) - % Female in South Africa, 2001–2022

010203040502001201120222001: 362003: 382004: 38.22005: 39.72006: 39.72007: 40.32008: 39.72009: 40.82010: 41.72011: 42.32012: 43.72013: 442014: 44.32015: 452016: 45.12017: 44.92018: 45.72019: 46.22020: 46.62021: 472022: 47.6

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2022, researchers (hc) - % female in South Africa stood at 47.6%. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 8.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, researchers (hc) - % female in South Africa peaked at 47.6% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 36.0%, in 2001.

South Africa ranks 33rd of 107 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.

Researchers (HC) - % Female in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Researchers (HC) - % Female in South Africa, 2001 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2001 36.0%
2003 38.0% +5.3%
2004 38.2% +0.7%
2005 39.7% +3.9%
2006 39.7% +0.0%
2007 40.3% +1.4%
2008 39.7% -1.6%
2009 40.8% +2.8%
2010 41.7% +2.2%
2011 42.3% +1.4%
2012 43.7% +3.4%
2013 44.0% +0.7%
2014 44.3% +0.6%
2015 45.0% +1.6%
2016 45.1% +0.2%
2017 44.9% -0.4%
2018 45.7% +1.7%
2019 46.2% +1.0%
2020 46.6% +0.9%
2021 47.0% +0.9%
2022 47.6% +1.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 39.1% 36.0% 40.8% 8
2010s 44.3% 41.7% 46.2% 10
2020s 47.1% 46.6% 47.6% 3

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 30 Thailand 48.6% compare
  2. 31 Malaysia 48.6% compare
  3. 32 Honduras 47.8% compare
  4. 34 Panama 47.4% compare
  5. 35 Pakistan 47.1% compare
  6. 36 Romania 46.5% compare

See the full ranking of 107 places →

More science & technology data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is researchers (hc) - % female in South Africa?
Researchers (hc) - % female in South Africa was 47.6% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest researchers (hc) - % female recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 47.6% in 2022.
What is the lowest researchers (hc) - % female recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 36.0% in 2001.
How does South Africa rank for researchers (hc) - % female?
South Africa ranks 33rd out of 107 countries with data for 2022.
Is researchers (hc) - % female rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 8.9%. 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 Researchers (HC) - % Female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Researchers (HC) - % Female in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/researchers-hc-percent-female/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Researchers (HC) - % Female
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
107 places, 1,805 data points, 1996–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release