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Female labor force participation rate — all countries

Female labor force participation rate — Sierra Leone

Female labor force participation rate in Sierra Leone in 2025 — 51.6%. Ranked 107 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 13.48 pp.

2025 51.6% −0.21 pp vs 2024
World rank 107of 182
Period maximum 65.92%2004
Period minimum 51.09%2020

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of women aged 15+

Female labor force participation rate — Sierra Leone, 1990–2025505560657019901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 65.09%1991: 65.05%1992: 65.01%1993: 64.98%1994: 64.94%1995: 64.9%1996: 64.86%1997: 64.82%1998: 64.79%1999: 64.74%2000: 64.7%2001: 64.68%2002: 64.67%2003: 64.66%2004: 65.92%2005: 65%2006: 64.07%2007: 63.13%2008: 62.18%2009: 61.22%2010: 60.26%2011: 59.28%2012: 58.29%2013: 57.3%2014: 56.31%2015: 55.09%2016: 53.87%2017: 52.64%2018: 51.42%2019: 51.58%2020: 51.09%2021: 51.47%2022: 51.61%2023: 51.77%2024: 51.82%2025: 51.6%
Change over the period: −13.48 pp Annual average: -0.39 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone 51.6%
World 48.94%
Sub-Saharan Africa 65.16%
Western Africa computed 69.24%
Low-income countries computed 54.64%
Female labor force participation rate — Sierra Leone, by year Sierra Leone All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 51.6 −0.21 pp
2024 51.82 +0.04 pp
2023 51.77 +0.17 pp
2022 51.61 +0.13 pp
2021 51.47 +0.38 pp
2020 51.09 −0.49 pp
2019 51.58 +0.17 pp
2018 51.42 −1.23 pp
2017 52.64 −1.23 pp
2016 53.87 −1.22 pp
2015 55.09 −1.22 pp
2014 56.31 −1 pp
2013 57.3 −0.99 pp
2012 58.29 −0.98 pp
2011 59.28 −0.98 pp
2010 60.26 −0.97 pp
2009 61.22 −0.96 pp
2008 62.18 −0.95 pp
2007 63.13 −0.94 pp
2006 64.07 −0.93 pp
2005 65 −0.92 pp
2004 65.92 +1.26 pp
2003 64.66 −0 pp
2002 64.67 −0.01 pp
2001 64.68 −0.02 pp
2000 64.7 −0.04 pp
1999 64.74 −0.05 pp
1998 64.79 −0.04 pp
1997 64.82 −0.04 pp
1996 64.86 −0.04 pp
1995 64.9 −0.04 pp
1994 64.94 −0.04 pp
1993 64.98 −0.04 pp
1992 65.01 −0.04 pp
1991 65.05 −0.03 pp
1990 65.09 —

Western Africa, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

NG Nigeria 80.7 BJ Benin 75.16 NE Niger 72.78 LR Liberia 72.03 BF Burkina Faso 64.07 GW Guinea-Bissau 60.29 CI Côte d'Ivoire 59.45 TG Togo 56.64 GH Ghana 55.27 ML Mali 52.84 SL Sierra Leone 51.6 CV Cabo Verde 50.47 GM Gambia 45.46 GN Guinea 42.65 SN Senegal 38.22 MR Mauritania 26.18
Full table for all countries

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.

Other indicators for Sierra Leone

Labor Female share of the labor force

What part of the labor force of a country is made up of women.

Sierra Leone by year Labor Labor force participation rate

What share of the population aged 15 and over works or looks for work.

Sierra Leone by year Labor Female unemployment

The unemployment rate of the female part of the labor force.

Sierra Leone by year Demography Total fertility rate

How many children one woman would bear on average if current age-specific fertility held.

Sierra Leone by year
All indicators for Sierra Leone