Public sector employment, as a share of paid employment by gender in South Africa

South Africa: Public sector employment, as a share of paid employment by gender was 0.189 in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
0.189
Change on year
up 9.2%
World rank
32nd
of 68 countries
All-time high
0.2327
in 2000
All-time low
0.1421
in 2017
Years of data
15
2000–2020

Public sector employment, as a share of paid employment by gender in South Africa, 2000–2020

00.050.10.150.20.252000201020202000: 0.2332001: 0.2322003: 0.2082008: 0.1572009: 0.1682010: 0.1692012: 0.1852013: 0.1832014: 0.1522015: 0.1812016: 0.1742017: 0.1422018: 0.1782019: 0.1732020: 0.189

Source: World Bank.

Analysis

The most recent figure for public sector employment, as a share of paid employment by gender in South Africa is 0.189, measured in 2020.

That represents a change of up 9.2% on the previous year and up 11.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, public sector employment, as a share of paid employment by gender in South Africa peaked at 0.2327 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.1421, in 2017.

That places South Africa 32nd out of 68 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.

Public sector employment, as a share of paid employment by gender in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Public sector employment, as a share of paid employment by gender: Male in South Africa, 2000 to 2020.
Year Value Change
2000 0.2327
2001 0.2317 -0.4%
2003 0.2081 -10.2%
2008 0.1573 -24.4%
2009 0.1678 +6.7%
2010 0.1692 +0.8%
2012 0.1845 +9.1%
2013 0.1833 -0.7%
2014 0.1523 -16.9%
2015 0.181 +18.8%
2016 0.174 -3.9%
2017 0.1421 -18.3%
2018 0.1775 +24.9%
2019 0.1731 -2.5%
2020 0.189 +9.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 0.1995 0.1573 0.2327 5
2010s 0.1708 0.1421 0.1845 9
2020s 0.189 0.189 0.189 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 29 Namibia 0.1959 compare
  2. 30 Spain 0.1941 compare
  3. 31 Australia 0.1904 compare
  4. 33 Pakistan 0.1879 compare
  5. 34 Tanzania, United Republic of 0.1851 compare
  6. 35 Ireland 0.1842 compare

See the full ranking of 68 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is public sector employment, as a share of paid employment by gender in South Africa?
Public sector employment, as a share of paid employment by gender in South Africa was 0.189 in 2020, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest public sector employment, as a share of paid employment by gender recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 0.2327 in 2000.
What is the lowest public sector employment, as a share of paid employment by gender recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0.1421 in 2017.
How does South Africa rank for public sector employment, as a share of paid employment by gender?
South Africa ranks 32nd out of 68 countries with data for 2020.
Is public sector employment, as a share of paid employment by gender rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from the World Bank, published as part of Public sector employment, as a share of paid employment by gender: Male. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Public sector employment, as a share of paid employment by gender in South Africa. Statizoid. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/public-sector-employment-as-a-share-of-paid-employment-by-gender-male/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Public sector employment, as a share of paid employment by gender: Male
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
68 places, 851 data points, 2000–2022
Last refreshed