South Africa
Country in Africa
In brief
Women in parliament: 44.9% (2025). World rank 16 of 190; in Africa, 2 of 52. Rule of law, score 0–100: 59.3 (2025). World rank 96 of 207 (1 = best); in Africa, 7 of 54. Voice and accountability, score 0–100: 70.2 (2025). World rank 57 of 205 (1 = best); in Africa, 2 of 54. From 2015 to 2025: women in parliament 42% → 44.9%, rule of law 59 → 59.3 (score 0–100), and control of corruption 48.5 → 45.4 (score 0–100). Better than all its neighbours (Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe): voice and accountability.
State
- Form of government
- Parliamentary republic
- Head of state
- Cyril Ramaphosa
- Head of government
- Cyril Ramaphosa
- Independence
- No data
- UN member
- Yes
- Women in parliament
- 44.9% 2025