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Gender inequality index — all countries

Gender inequality index — South Africa

Gender inequality index in South Africa in 2023 — 0.388 index. Ranked 95 in the world out of 172. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 21.6%.

2023 0.388 index −0.77% vs 2022
World rank 95of 172
Period maximum 0.495 index1990
Period minimum 0.388 index2023

Trend over time

1990–2023 · index, 0–1

Gender inequality index — South Africa, 1990–20230.350.40.450.51990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 0.495 index1991: 0.493 index1992: 0.485 index1993: 0.483 index1994: 0.477 index1995: 0.473 index1996: 0.481 index1997: 0.482 index1998: 0.467 index1999: 0.453 index2000: 0.463 index2001: 0.452 index2002: 0.458 index2003: 0.464 index2004: 0.463 index2005: 0.444 index2006: 0.44 index2007: 0.438 index2008: 0.455 index2009: 0.447 index2010: 0.441 index2011: 0.437 index2012: 0.429 index2013: 0.428 index2014: 0.429 index2015: 0.425 index2016: 0.411 index2017: 0.406 index2018: 0.395 index2019: 0.395 index2020: 0.391 index2021: 0.392 index2022: 0.391 index2023: 0.388 index
Change over the period: −0.107 (−21.62%) Average annual rate: -0.74 %

Comparison, 2023

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

South Africa 0.388 index
World 0.455 index
Sub-Saharan Africa computed 0.563 index
Southern Africa computed 0.4 index
Upper-middle-income countries computed 0.24 index
Gender inequality index — South Africa, by year South Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year index Change Change, %
2023 0.388 −0.003 −0.77%
2022 0.391 −0.001 −0.26%
2021 0.392 +0.001 +0.26%
2020 0.391 −0.004 −1.01%
2019 0.395 +0 +0%
2018 0.395 −0.011 −2.71%
2017 0.406 −0.005 −1.22%
2016 0.411 −0.014 −3.29%
2015 0.425 −0.004 −0.93%
2014 0.429 +0.001 +0.23%
2013 0.428 −0.001 −0.23%
2012 0.429 −0.008 −1.83%
2011 0.437 −0.004 −0.91%
2010 0.441 −0.006 −1.34%
2009 0.447 −0.008 −1.76%
2008 0.455 +0.017 +3.88%
2007 0.438 −0.002 −0.45%
2006 0.44 −0.004 −0.9%
2005 0.444 −0.019 −4.1%
2004 0.463 −0.001 −0.22%
2003 0.464 +0.006 +1.31%
2002 0.458 +0.006 +1.33%
2001 0.452 −0.011 −2.38%
2000 0.463 +0.01 +2.21%
1999 0.453 −0.014 −3%
1998 0.467 −0.015 −3.11%
1997 0.482 +0.001 +0.21%
1996 0.481 +0.008 +1.69%
1995 0.473 −0.004 −0.84%
1994 0.477 −0.006 −1.24%
1993 0.483 −0.002 −0.41%
1992 0.485 −0.008 −1.62%
1991 0.493 −0.002 −0.4%
1990 0.495 — —

Southern Africa, 2023

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

ZA South Africa 0.388 NA Namibia 0.448 SZ Eswatini 0.484 BW Botswana 0.49 LS Lesotho 0.534
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The UNDP Gender Inequality Index, built on three dimensions: reproductive health (maternal mortality and adolescent birth rates), empowerment (the share of women in parliament and the level of education) and participation in the labor market. Unlike the Gender Development Index, here zero means full equality and one means extreme inequality: the scale is inverted. Of the three dimensions it is reproductive health that separates countries the most.

Important: The scale is the reverse of the Gender Development Index: here the lower the better. The two are not to be confused — these are different indexes with different components.

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

Other indicators for South Africa

Indexes Gender development index

The ratio of the Human Development Index of women to the same index of men.

South Africa by year 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 Mortality Maternal mortality ratio

The number of deaths of women from causes related to pregnancy per 100,000 live births.

South Africa by year Labor Women in parliament

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

South Africa by year
All indicators for South Africa