Chart performance:
| Week | Position | Movement | Comments |
| 05-Oct-86 | 28 | New | |
| 12-Oct-86 | 30 | -2 | |
| 19-Oct-86 | 29 | +1 | |
| 26-Oct-86 | 23 | +6 | Star rater |
| 02-Nov-86 | 19 | +4 | Biggest climber/Star rater/Peak |
Written by: James Harris III, Terry Lewis & Janet Jackson
Produced by: James Harris III (as Jimmy Jam) and Terry Lewis
South African record label (unless otherwise stated): A&M
| Hit number for artist | 1 |
| Peak position | 19 |
| Weeks | 5 |
| Biggest climber awards | 1 |
| Star rater climbs | 2 |
| Biggest faller awards | 0 |
| Top 20 points | 2 |
| Overall Top 20 points ranking | =2312 |
| Top 20 points ranking for the artist | 1 |
| Top 30 Points | 26 |
| Overall Top 30 points ranking | =2320 |
| Top 30 points ranking for the artist | 1 |
Annual ranking:
| 1986 | 108 |
Other chart success:
| Australia | 6 |
| Belgium | 7 |
| Canada | 6 |
| Germany | 8 |
| Ireland | 10 |
| Netherlands | 3 |
| New Zealand | 27 |
| Switzerland | 9 |
| UK | 3 |
| US | 4 |
| Zimbabwe | 1 |
SA Radio charts:
| Radio 5 | 5 |
Janet Jackson would release 2 albums and 8 singles before ‘What Have You Done For Me Lately’, but only 2 of those 8 singles would chart in the US and those were ‘Young Love’ (#64) and ‘Come Give Your Love To Me’ (#58). ‘What Have You Done For Me Lately’ would be her first US top 10 hit and she would see a run of 27 hits (including ‘What Have You Done For Me Lately’) with only 1 of them failing to hit the top 10 (and that was ‘The Pleasure Principal’ which peaked at 14). The song would top the Dance Singles Sales and Hot Black Singles charts in the US.
Video:
Artist link: Janet Jackson
SA Singles Charts 