Population and Housing Census results show that in 2022, 13,8% (2 463 429) of all households in South Africa were agricultural households compared with 19,9% (2 879 590) in 2011. The percentage of women-headed households involved in agricultural activities increased between 2011 and 2022 at both national and provincial levels, indicating an improvement in women’s participation in household agriculture over the reported period. Nationally, the percentage increased from 47,9% in 2011 to 52,9% in 2022 (see Figure 1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Figure 1 also shows that women-headed households recorded higher levels of participation in agricultural activities in predominantly rural provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Limpopo compared with their counterparts in more urbanised provinces such as Gauteng and Western Cape. This pattern suggests that women’s involvement in agriculture is closely linked to rural livelihoods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, the findings highlight the continued contribution of women to South Africa’s agricultural sector and underscore the importance of policies and programmes that support women’s access to productive resources, agricultural extension services and market opportunities. Monitoring trends in women’s participation in agriculture is essential for assessing progress towards inclusive and sustainable rural development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Women-headed households take part in a number of agricultural activities across South Africa. In 2022, 41,2% of women-headed households involved in growing crops combined with farming of animals lived in the Eastern Cape, followed by KwaZulu-Natal (31,9%). KwaZulu-Natal accounted for 29,3% of all women-headed households involved in livestock and poultry production, followed by Eastern Cape (27,3%) and Limpopo (17,3%). The production of fruit and vegetables by women-headed households was mostly concentrated in Gauteng (24,0%), KwaZulu-Natal (20,3%) and Limpopo (12,3%). Limpopo registered the highest percentage of grains, food crops and industrial crops, accounting for 39,6% of female-headed agricultural households involved in that activity. KwaZulu-Natal (20,9%) and the Eastern Cape (14,8%) also recorded relatively high contributions (see Figure 2).<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The proportion of farm owners who are women increased from 19% (2007) to 21% (2018)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When we look at the results of the Commercial Census of Agriculture, we see that, in South Africa, there was a rise in the percentage of owners of farming and related services enterprises (either full-time or part-time) who are women, from 19,1% in 2007 to 20,5% in 2018. A similar pattern was observed in Northern Cape, North West, Eastern Cape and Free State, where the proportion of women who owned farming and related services enterprises was higher in 2018 than in 2007. In the Northern Cape the share was 4,6 percentage points higher (15,5% in 2007 to 20,1% in 2018), followed by North West (+4,5 percentage points) from 15,8% to 20,3%, Eastern Cape (+4,4 percentage points) from 16,3% to 20,7%, and Free State (+4,2 percentage points) from 15,4% to 19,6%. A different pattern was observed for Western Cape, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, where the proportion of women who owned farming and related services enterprises was lower in 2018 than in 2011 (see Figure 3).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a0 There was a decline in the percentage of unpaid female family members in 2018 (42%) compared with 2007 (53%)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2018, Limpopo (47,0%) had the highest proportion of female family members working in farming and related services activities without being paid, followed by the Northern Cape (46,7%), Eastern Cape (46,2%), KwaZulu-Natal (44,8%) and Western Cape (44,7%) (see Figure 4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nationally, the proportion of female family members working in farming and related services activities without being paid was lower in 2018 (42,1%) than in 2007 (53,4%). It was also lower across all provinces. The largest decrease was recorded in the Free State (-16,3 percentage points), followed by Mpumalanga (-15,1 percentage points), North West (-13,0 percentage points), and Gauteng (-12,8 percentage points). Between 2007 and 2018, the proportion of women employed full-time in the farming and related services industry increased from 31% to 34%<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Women play an important role in South Africa’s agricultural labour force. In 2018, Limpopo had the highest proportion of women employed full-time in the farming and related services industry (42,4%), followed by KwaZulu-Natal (41,3%), Mpumalanga (38,4%) and Western Cape (35,9%) (see Figure 5).<\/p>\n\n\n\n All provinces recorded increases between 2007 and 2018 except Gauteng. This shows that there is progress for the share of women employed full-time in this industry. The North West had the largest increase (+5,7 percentage points) of women employed full-time, followed by Mpumalanga (+4,6 percentage points), Northern Cape (+3,1 percentage points), Western Cape (+2,5 percentage points), Limpopo (+2,4 percentage points), Eastern Cape (+2,2 percentage points), KwaZulu-Natal (+1,8 percentage points) and Free State (+1,5 percentage points). Gauteng was the only province to show a decline in the proportion of women employed full-time, with a decrease of 4,5 percentage points. Women occupied over two-thirds of administrative jobs in 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A breakdown of employees on farms by occupation and gender shows that women account for a high proportion of jobs related to administration. In 2018, 10 410 employees working in administration were women, representing 68,7% of all administrative staff. The lowest representation of women was observed among farm management, with 2 497 women accounting for 15,6% of all farm managers (see Figure 6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information, download the following statistical reports:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1) Stats SA, Census 2022: Agricultural households, Report No. 03-11-01 (2022)<\/em> (Download here<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2) Stats SA, Census of commercial agriculture, Report No. 11-02-01 (2017)<\/em> (Download here<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similar articles are available on the Stats SA website and can be accessed here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As Statistics South Africa continues to celebrate 30 years of democratic census-taking, we take a closer look at the vital role women play in agricultural activity in South Africa. Data from agricultural households and the commercial agriculture industry reveal important insights into the extent and nature of their contribution. Women headed just over half of read more »<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pic1.jpg\")
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Women are involved in various agricultural activities across provinces<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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