Labor force, female in South Asia
South Asia: Labor force, female was 29.1% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force, female in South Asia, 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 South Asia stood at 29.1%. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 14.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in South Asia peaked at 29.1% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 25.1%, in 1990.
That places South Asia 40th out of 45 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Labor force, female in South Asia, year by year
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 25.1% | — |
| 1991 | 25.1% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 25.2% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 25.3% | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 25.4% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 25.8% | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 26.1% | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 26.5% | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 26.9% | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 27.2% | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 27.5% | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 27.6% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 27.8% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 27.9% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 28.1% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 28.3% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 27.7% | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 27.3% | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 26.9% | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 26.5% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 26.1% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 25.7% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 25.2% | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 25.2% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 25.2% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 25.3% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 25.4% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 25.7% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 25.9% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 26.0% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 26.0% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 27.0% | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 28.0% | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 28.6% | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 29.1% | +1.7% |
| 2025 | 29.1% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25.9% | 25.1% | 27.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 27.6% | 26.5% | 28.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.6% | 25.2% | 26.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.0% | 26.0% | 29.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 37 Israel 48.3% compare
- 38 Georgia 48.2% compare
- 39 Uganda 48.2% compare
- 40 North Korea 48.2% compare
- 41 Finland 48.1% compare
- 42 Solomon Islands 48.0% compare
- 43 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 47.8% compare
More education data for South Asia
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 160.82 million (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 68.1% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 24.6% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.84 million (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0959 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 119.0% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 5.84 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in South Asia?
- Labor force, female in South Asia was 29.1% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, female recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 29.1% in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.1% in 1990.
- How does South Asia rank for labor force, female?
- South Asia ranks 40th out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Asia 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.