Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Labor force, female (% of total labor force) was 47.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, female in United Kingdom, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database. Measured in % of total labor force.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force, female in United Kingdom is 47.8%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in United Kingdom peaked at 48.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 43.7%, in 1990.
United Kingdom ranks 43rd of 187 countries on this measure, 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 43.7% | — |
| 1991 | 43.9% | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 44.1% | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 44.5% | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 44.6% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 44.7% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 45.0% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 45.2% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 45.3% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 45.5% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 45.6% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 45.7% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 46.0% | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 45.8% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 46.1% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 46.2% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 46.3% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 46.1% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 46.2% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 46.4% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 46.4% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 46.5% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 46.5% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 46.7% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 46.8% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 46.9% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 47.0% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 47.1% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 47.2% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 47.5% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 47.7% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 48.0% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 47.7% | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 47.5% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 47.8% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 47.8% | -0.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 47.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 46.5%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 47.8% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 47.1%, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 44.7% | 43.7% | 45.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 46.0% | 45.6% | 46.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.9% | 46.4% | 47.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.8% | 47.5% | 48.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 40 North Korea 48.2% compare
- 41 Finland 48.1% compare
- 42 Solomon Islands 48.0% compare
- 44 Guinea-Bissau 47.7% compare
- 45 Australia 47.7% compare
- 46 Eritrea 47.7% compare
More education data for United Kingdom
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 388,714 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2012)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 830,495 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 790,556 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.40 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.86 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0111 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.071 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in United Kingdom?
- Labor force, female in United Kingdom was 47.8% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, female recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 48.0% in 2021.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.7% in 1990.
- How does United Kingdom rank for labor force, female?
- United Kingdom ranks 43rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.