Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in Kenya
Kenya: Labor force, female (% of total labor force) was 47.4% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force, female in Kenya, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database. Measured in % of total labor force.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 47.4% for labor force, female in 2025.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in Kenya peaked at 49.3% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 46.9%, in 2019.
That places Kenya 54th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 48.7% | — |
| 1991 | 48.8% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 48.9% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 48.9% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 49.0% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 49.1% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 49.1% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 49.2% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 49.2% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 49.3% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 49.2% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 49.1% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 49.0% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 49.0% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 48.9% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 48.8% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 48.8% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 48.7% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 48.7% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 48.6% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 48.6% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 48.6% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 48.5% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 48.5% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 48.5% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 48.5% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 48.5% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 48.0% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 47.5% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 46.9% | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 46.9% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 47.0% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 47.1% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 47.3% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 47.3% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 47.4% | +0.1% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 47.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 43.6%, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 47.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 47.5%, 100% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 49.0% | 48.7% | 49.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.9% | 48.6% | 49.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.2% | 46.9% | 48.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.2% | 46.9% | 47.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More education data for Kenya
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 168,396 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 235,728 (2016)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.74 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 8.04 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.7181 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1453 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in Kenya?
- Labor force, female in Kenya was 47.4% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, female recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 49.3% in 1999.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.9% in 2019.
- How does Kenya rank for labor force, female?
- Kenya ranks 54th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Kenya 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.