Female labor force participation rate — all countries

Female labor force participation rate — Lower-middle-income countries

Female labor force participation rate in lower-middle-income countries in 2025 — 40.51%. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 3.54 pp.

2025 40.51% +0.04 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 40.51%2025
Period minimum 36.51%2020

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of women aged 15+

Female labor force participation rate — Lower-middle-income countries, 1990–20253638404219901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 36.97%1991: 37.23%1992: 37.36%1993: 37.52%1994: 37.77%1995: 37.91%1996: 38.28%1997: 38.66%1998: 39.05%1999: 39.4%2000: 39.7%2001: 39.82%2002: 39.83%2003: 39.97%2004: 40.11%2005: 40.31%2006: 39.76%2007: 39.34%2008: 38.74%2009: 38.47%2010: 38.11%2011: 37.65%2012: 37.27%2013: 37.22%2014: 37.23%2015: 37.35%2016: 37.36%2017: 37.33%2018: 37.26%2019: 37.29%2020: 36.51%2021: 37.7%2022: 38.75%2023: 39.88%2024: 40.47%2025: 40.51%
Change over the period: +3.54 pp Annual average: 0.1 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Lower-middle-income countries

Lower-middle-income countries 40.51%
World 48.94%
Female labor force participation rate — Lower-middle-income countries, by year Lower-middle-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 40.51 +0.04 pp
2024 40.47 +0.59 pp
2023 39.88 +1.13 pp
2022 38.75 +1.06 pp
2021 37.7 +1.18 pp
2020 36.51 −0.78 pp
2019 37.29 +0.04 pp
2018 37.26 −0.07 pp
2017 37.33 −0.03 pp
2016 37.36 +0.01 pp
2015 37.35 +0.12 pp
2014 37.23 +0.02 pp
2013 37.22 −0.06 pp
2012 37.27 −0.37 pp
2011 37.65 −0.46 pp
2010 38.11 −0.37 pp
2009 38.47 −0.27 pp
2008 38.74 −0.6 pp
2007 39.34 −0.42 pp
2006 39.76 −0.54 pp
2005 40.31 +0.19 pp
2004 40.11 +0.14 pp
2003 39.97 +0.15 pp
2002 39.83 +0 pp
2001 39.82 +0.12 pp
2000 39.7 +0.3 pp
1999 39.4 +0.35 pp
1998 39.05 +0.39 pp
1997 38.66 +0.37 pp
1996 38.28 +0.37 pp
1995 37.91 +0.14 pp
1994 37.77 +0.25 pp
1993 37.52 +0.16 pp
1992 37.36 +0.13 pp
1991 37.23 +0.26 pp
1990 36.97

About the indicator

The share of women aged 15 and over who belong to the labor force. The spread across countries runs from under 10% to over 80%, and it is one of the strongest dividing lines between socioeconomic models. Historically the rate rose together with falling fertility and wider access to education.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.