Women in ministerial positions — all countries

Women in ministerial positions — South Africa

Women in ministerial positions in South Africa in 2025 — 40.6%. Ranked 22 in the world out of 190. Since 2005, the indicator has fallen by 0.8 pp.

2025 40.6% −3.1 pp vs 2024
World rank 22of 190
Period maximum 50%2023
Period minimum 34.3%2010

Trend over time

2005–2025 · % of ministers

Women in ministerial positions — South Africa, 2005–20253035404550200520072009201120132015201720192021202320252005: 41.4%2008: 44.8%2010: 34.3%2012: 40%2014: 37.1%2015: 41.7%2016: 41.7%2018: 48.6%2019: 48.3%2020: 48.3%2022: 48.1%2023: 50%2024: 43.8%2025: 40.6%
Change over the period: −0.8 pp Annual average: -0.04 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

South Africa 40.6%
World 22.4%
Southern Africa computed 31.7%
Women in ministerial positions — South Africa, by year South Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 40.6 −3.1 pp
2024 43.8 −6.3 pp
2023 50 +1.9 pp
2022 48.1
2020 48.3 +0 pp
2019 48.3 −0.3 pp
2018 48.6
2016 41.7 +0 pp
2015 41.7 +4.6 pp
2014 37.1
2012 40
2010 34.3
2008 44.8
2005 41.4

Southern Africa, 2025

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

About the indicator

The share of women among the ministers of a government. The indicator complements the share of women in parliament and often diverges from it: parliamentary representation in many countries is backed by quotas, while the composition of a government is formed by the decision of one person or party, so it reacts faster and shifts more sharply — from zero to full parity within a single round of appointments.

Important: The aggregate for a country group is a simple average across countries rather than a weighted one: the correct weight would be the number of ministers, and the source does not publish it. A simple average answers the question of how widespread the practice is, not of how many women ministers there are in the world.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.