Share of male directors in South Africa
South Africa: Share of male directors was 52.4% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of male directors in South Africa, 2014–2022
Source: World Bank's Entrepreneurship Survey and database (https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/entrepreneurship). Downloaded on May 2, 2026. Measured in % of total directors.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 52.4% for share of male directors in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.8% on the previous year and down 10.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of male directors in South Africa peaked at 60.7% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 52.4%, in 2022.
South Africa ranks 71st of 71 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Share of male directors in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total directors | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 58.4% | — |
| 2015 | 60.7% | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 60.7% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 60.3% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 60.4% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 59.8% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 60.1% | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 58.7% | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 52.4% | -10.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 52.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 72.7%, 72% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 52.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 75.1%, 70% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 60.1% | 58.4% | 60.7% | 6 |
| 2020s | 57.1% | 52.4% | 60.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More private sector data for South Africa
- Merchandise trade 57.2% (2025)
- Food imports 7.2% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 62.1% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 128.08 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 12.8% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 38.3% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 116.40 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,798 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2725 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 5.74 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of male directors in South Africa?
- Share of male directors in South Africa was 52.4% in 2022, according to World Bank's Entrepreneurship Survey and database (https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/entrepreneurship). Downloaded on May 2, 2026.
- What is the highest share of male directors recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 60.7% in 2016.
- What is the lowest share of male directors recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 52.4% in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for share of male directors?
- South Africa ranks 71st out of 71 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of male directors rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank's Entrepreneurship Survey and database (https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/entrepreneurship). Downloaded on May 2, 2026, published as part of Share of male directors (% of total directors). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of male directors is the proportion of male directors of newly registered limited liability companies out of the total number of directors of newly registered limited liability companies in the economy in the calendar year. A director is defined as an individual who conducts the affairs of newly registered limited liability companies in the calendar year.