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Gender development index — all countries

Gender development index — South Africa

Gender development index in South Africa in 2023 — 0.996 ratio. Ranked 39 in the world out of 184. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 2.2%.

2023 0.996 ratio +0% vs 2022
World rank 39of 184
Period maximum 0.997 ratio2000
Period minimum 0.952 ratio2008

Trend over time

1990–2023 · ratio

Gender development index — South Africa, 1990–20230.940.960.9811990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 0.975 ratio1991: 0.978 ratio1992: 0.974 ratio1993: 0.971 ratio1994: 0.973 ratio1995: 0.975 ratio1996: 0.972 ratio1997: 0.96 ratio1998: 0.958 ratio1999: 0.962 ratio2000: 0.997 ratio2001: 0.972 ratio2002: 0.972 ratio2003: 0.966 ratio2004: 0.961 ratio2005: 0.958 ratio2006: 0.958 ratio2007: 0.969 ratio2008: 0.952 ratio2009: 0.956 ratio2010: 0.962 ratio2011: 0.968 ratio2012: 0.972 ratio2013: 0.977 ratio2014: 0.982 ratio2015: 0.97 ratio2016: 0.987 ratio2017: 0.983 ratio2018: 0.966 ratio2019: 0.959 ratio2020: 0.967 ratio2021: 0.982 ratio2022: 0.996 ratio2023: 0.996 ratio
Change over the period: +0.021 (+2.15%) Average annual rate: 0.06 %

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Africa

South Africa 0.996 ratio
World 0.955 ratio
Sub-Saharan Africa computed 0.9 ratio
Southern Africa computed 0.996 ratio
Upper-middle-income countries computed 0.971 ratio
Gender development index — South Africa, by year South Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year ratio Change Change, %
2023 0.996 +0 +0%
2022 0.996 +0.014 +1.43%
2021 0.982 +0.015 +1.55%
2020 0.967 +0.008 +0.83%
2019 0.959 −0.007 −0.72%
2018 0.966 −0.017 −1.73%
2017 0.983 −0.004 −0.41%
2016 0.987 +0.017 +1.75%
2015 0.97 −0.012 −1.22%
2014 0.982 +0.005 +0.51%
2013 0.977 +0.005 +0.51%
2012 0.972 +0.004 +0.41%
2011 0.968 +0.006 +0.62%
2010 0.962 +0.006 +0.63%
2009 0.956 +0.004 +0.42%
2008 0.952 −0.017 −1.75%
2007 0.969 +0.011 +1.15%
2006 0.958 +0 +0%
2005 0.958 −0.003 −0.31%
2004 0.961 −0.005 −0.52%
2003 0.966 −0.006 −0.62%
2002 0.972 +0 +0%
2001 0.972 −0.025 −2.51%
2000 0.997 +0.035 +3.64%
1999 0.962 +0.004 +0.42%
1998 0.958 −0.002 −0.21%
1997 0.96 −0.012 −1.23%
1996 0.972 −0.003 −0.31%
1995 0.975 +0.002 +0.21%
1994 0.973 +0.002 +0.21%
1993 0.971 −0.003 −0.31%
1992 0.974 −0.004 −0.41%
1991 0.978 +0.003 +0.31%
1990 0.975 — —

Southern Africa, 2023

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

NA Namibia 1.011 LS Lesotho 1.006 BW Botswana 0.997 ZA South Africa 0.996 SZ Eswatini 0.964
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The ratio of the Human Development Index computed for women to the index computed for men. One means equality, values below it mean women lag behind, above it men do, and the second happens more often than is commonly thought: in a number of countries women are ahead of men in life expectancy and education by enough to outweigh their lag in income. The indicator answers a question about the gap, not about the level: in two countries with the same ratio absolute development can differ twofold.

Important: A ratio, not a level: a value near one in a poor country speaks of equality between the sexes, not of well-being. It is worth looking at together with the Human Development Index itself.

Source: Human Development Report (UNDP), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.

Other indicators for South Africa

Indexes Human development index

A composite measure of development: life expectancy, education and income in a single number from 0 to 1.

South Africa by year Indexes Gender inequality index

A composite measure of inequality between the sexes: health, representation and labor market participation.

South Africa by year Labor Women in parliament

What part of the seats in the national parliament women hold.

South Africa by year Demography Share of women in the population

What part of a country's population is made up of women.

South Africa by year
All indicators for South Africa