Labor force, female in World

World: Labor force, female was 40.2% in 2025. ▬ Flat

Latest (2025)
40.2%
Change on year
down 0.0%
Rank
31st
of 45 groups
All-time high
40.2%
in 2024
All-time low
39.3%
in 1993
Years of data
36
1990–2025

Labor force, female in World, 1990–2025

0102030401990200720251990: 39.3 % of total labor force1991: 39.3 % of total labor force1992: 39.4 % of total labor force1993: 39.3 % of total labor force1994: 39.4 % of total labor force1995: 39.5 % of total labor force1996: 39.5 % of total labor force1997: 39.6 % of total labor force1998: 39.7 % of total labor force1999: 39.7 % of total labor force2000: 39.8 % of total labor force2001: 39.8 % of total labor force2002: 39.8 % of total labor force2003: 39.8 % of total labor force2004: 39.8 % of total labor force2005: 39.9 % of total labor force2006: 39.8 % of total labor force2007: 39.8 % of total labor force2008: 39.7 % of total labor force2009: 39.7 % of total labor force2010: 39.6 % of total labor force2011: 39.5 % of total labor force2012: 39.5 % of total labor force2013: 39.4 % of total labor force2014: 39.4 % of total labor force2015: 39.5 % of total labor force2016: 39.5 % of total labor force2017: 39.5 % of total labor force2018: 39.6 % of total labor force2019: 39.6 % of total labor force2020: 39.5 % of total labor force2021: 39.7 % of total labor force2022: 39.8 % of total labor force2023: 40.1 % of total labor force2024: 40.2 % of total labor force2025: 40.2 % of total labor force

Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database. Measured in % of total labor force.

Analysis

In 2025, labor force, female in World stood at 40.2%.

That represents a change of up 1.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force, female in World peaked at 40.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 39.3%, in 1993.

That places World 31st out of 45 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

Labor force, female in World, year by year

Annual values for Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in World, 1990 to 2025.
Year % of total labor force Change
1990 39.3%
1991 39.3% +0.0%
1992 39.4% +0.0%
1993 39.3% -0.1%
1994 39.4% +0.2%
1995 39.5% +0.2%
1996 39.5% +0.1%
1997 39.6% +0.1%
1998 39.7% +0.2%
1999 39.7% +0.2%
2000 39.8% +0.1%
2001 39.8% +0.0%
2002 39.8% +0.0%
2003 39.8% +0.1%
2004 39.8% -0.0%
2005 39.9% +0.1%
2006 39.8% -0.2%
2007 39.8% -0.0%
2008 39.7% -0.2%
2009 39.7% -0.0%
2010 39.6% -0.2%
2011 39.5% -0.2%
2012 39.5% -0.2%
2013 39.4% -0.1%
2014 39.4% -0.0%
2015 39.5% +0.1%
2016 39.5% +0.1%
2017 39.5% +0.1%
2018 39.6% +0.1%
2019 39.6% +0.2%
2020 39.5% -0.4%
2021 39.7% +0.7%
2022 39.8% +0.2%
2023 40.1% +0.7%
2024 40.2% +0.2%
2025 40.2% -0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 39.5% 39.3% 39.7% 10
2000s 39.8% 39.7% 39.9% 10
2010s 39.5% 39.4% 39.6% 10
2020s 39.9% 39.5% 40.2% 6

Countries ranked near World

  1. 28 Madagascar 48.6% compare
  2. 29 Congo 48.6% compare
  3. 30 Gambia 48.5% compare
  4. 31 Nigeria 48.4% compare
  5. 32 France 48.4% compare
  6. 33 Malawi 48.4% compare
  7. 34 Central African Republic 48.3% compare

See the full ranking of 234 places →

More education data for World

All data for World →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force, female in World?
Labor force, female in World was 40.2% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
What is the highest labor force, female recorded in World?
The highest recorded value was 40.2% in 2024.
What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in World?
The lowest recorded value was 39.3% in 1993.
How does World rank for labor force, female?
World ranks 31st out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
Is labor force, female rising or falling in World?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this World 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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Labor force, female in World. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-female-percent-of-total-labor-force/world/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force, female (% of total labor force)
Unit
% of total labor force
Source
International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
234 places, 8,410 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed

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.