Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 3.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Bangladesh, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Bangladesh is 3.7%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.6% on the previous year and down 49.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Bangladesh peaked at 7.4% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 1992.
Bangladesh ranks 135th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2.1% | — |
| 1992 | 2.1% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 2.1% | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 2.1% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 2.1% | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 2.1% | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 2.4% | +14.1% |
| 1998 | 2.7% | +12.6% |
| 1999 | 3.0% | +11.2% |
| 2000 | 3.3% | +9.8% |
| 2001 | 3.8% | +14.7% |
| 2002 | 4.3% | +13.2% |
| 2003 | 4.8% | +11.6% |
| 2004 | 6.0% | +23.4% |
| 2005 | 7.0% | +17.4% |
| 2006 | 6.4% | -8.6% |
| 2007 | 6.6% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 6.9% | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 7.2% | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 4.3% | -39.6% |
| 2011 | 5.4% | +23.6% |
| 2012 | 6.4% | +18.6% |
| 2013 | 7.4% | +16.3% |
| 2014 | 7.4% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 7.3% | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 7.2% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 6.6% | -8.4% |
| 2018 | 6.3% | -5.5% |
| 2019 | 5.9% | -5.6% |
| 2020 | 6.4% | +8.7% |
| 2021 | 6.0% | -7.3% |
| 2022 | 4.9% | -17.9% |
| 2023 | 3.2% | -33.8% |
| 2024 | 3.4% | +6.4% |
| 2025 | 3.7% | +6.6% |
Bangladesh compared with similar countries
- Bangladesh's 3.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.5%, 67% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Bangladesh's 3.7% is below the median for South Asia, which is 4.1%, 89% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.3% | 2.1% | 3.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.6% | 3.3% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.4% | 4.3% | 7.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.6% | 3.2% | 6.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
- 132 Nigeria 3.9% compare
- 133 Trinidad and Tobago 3.9% compare
- 134 Malaysia 3.9% compare
- 136 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 3.7% compare
- 137 Bahrain 3.6% compare
- 138 El Salvador 3.6% compare
More education data for Bangladesh
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 571,690 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 387,056 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.73 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.77 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 16.69 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.67 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0961 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Bangladesh?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Bangladesh was 3.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 7.4% in 2013.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 1992.
- How does Bangladesh rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- Bangladesh ranks 135th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bangladesh data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.