Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in European Union
European Union: Labor force, female (% of total labor force) was 46.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, female in European Union, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database. Measured in % of total labor force.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, female in European Union stood at 46.4%.
The figure is up 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in European Union peaked at 46.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 41.5%, in 1990.
That places European Union 7th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in European Union, year by year
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 41.5% | — |
| 1991 | 41.9% | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 42.0% | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 42.1% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 42.4% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 42.6% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 42.7% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 42.9% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 43.1% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 43.3% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 43.5% | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 43.7% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 43.9% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 44.1% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 44.3% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 44.4% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 44.6% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 44.7% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 44.8% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 45.1% | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 45.3% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 45.5% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 45.6% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 45.7% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 45.8% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 45.8% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 45.9% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 45.9% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 45.9% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 45.9% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 45.9% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 46.1% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 46.2% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 46.4% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 46.4% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 46.4% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 42.4% | 41.5% | 43.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 44.3% | 43.5% | 45.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.7% | 45.3% | 45.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.2% | 45.9% | 46.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
More education data for European Union
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 63.3% (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 37.39 million (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0517 units per person (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 14.2% (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 1.89 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.26 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in European Union?
- Labor force, female in European Union was 46.4% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, female recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 46.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.5% in 1990.
- How does European Union rank for labor force, female?
- European Union ranks 7th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this European Union data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, female (% of total labor force). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Female labor force as a percentage of the total show the extent to which women are active in the labor force. Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.