Women in ministerial positions — all countries

Women in ministerial positions — Southern Africa

Women in ministerial positions in Southern Africa in 2025 — 31.7%. Since 2005, the indicator has risen by 6 pp.

2025 31.7% +4.6 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 31.7%2025
Period minimum 23.9%2014

Trend over time

2005–2025 · % of ministers

Women in ministerial positions — Southern Africa, 2005–2025222426283032200520072009201120132015201720192021202320252005: 25.6%2008: 29.6%2010: 25.6%2012: 30.8%2014: 23.9%2015: 24.8%2016: 25.2%2018: 29%2019: 24.6%2020: 31.4%2022: 30.2%2023: 27.3%2024: 27.1%2025: 31.7%
Change over the period: +6 pp Annual average: 0.3 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Southern Africa 31.7%
World 22.4%
Women in ministerial positions — Southern Africa, by year Southern Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 31.7 +4.6 pp
2024 27.1 −0.2 pp
2023 27.3 −3 pp
2022 30.2
2020 31.4 +6.8 pp
2019 24.6 −4.4 pp
2018 29
2016 25.2 +0.4 pp
2015 24.8 +0.9 pp
2014 23.9
2012 30.8
2010 25.6
2008 29.6
2005 25.6

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.