Female labor force participation rate — all countries

Female labor force participation rate — Southern Asia

Female labor force participation rate in Southern Asia in 2025 — 30.46%. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 3.7 pp.

2025 30.46% −0.01 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 31.34%2005
Period minimum 26.12%2014

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of women aged 15+

Female labor force participation rate — Southern Asia, 1990–20252628303219901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 26.75%1991: 27.04%1992: 27.1%1993: 27.28%1994: 27.46%1995: 27.71%1996: 28.3%1997: 28.93%1998: 29.54%1999: 30.04%2000: 30.58%2001: 30.69%2002: 30.8%2003: 30.98%2004: 31.17%2005: 31.34%2006: 30.41%2007: 29.59%2008: 28.77%2009: 28.18%2010: 27.56%2011: 26.86%2012: 26.29%2013: 26.15%2014: 26.12%2015: 26.32%2016: 26.31%2017: 26.57%2018: 26.52%2019: 26.75%2020: 26.26%2021: 27.67%2022: 28.72%2023: 29.72%2024: 30.47%2025: 30.46%
Change over the period: +3.7 pp Annual average: 0.11 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Southern Asia

Southern Asia 30.46%
World 48.94%
Female labor force participation rate — Southern Asia, by year Southern Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 30.46 −0.01 pp
2024 30.47 +0.74 pp
2023 29.72 +1 pp
2022 28.72 +1.05 pp
2021 27.67 +1.42 pp
2020 26.26 −0.49 pp
2019 26.75 +0.23 pp
2018 26.52 −0.05 pp
2017 26.57 +0.26 pp
2016 26.31 −0.01 pp
2015 26.32 +0.2 pp
2014 26.12 −0.03 pp
2013 26.15 −0.14 pp
2012 26.29 −0.56 pp
2011 26.86 −0.7 pp
2010 27.56 −0.63 pp
2009 28.18 −0.58 pp
2008 28.77 −0.82 pp
2007 29.59 −0.82 pp
2006 30.41 −0.94 pp
2005 31.34 +0.17 pp
2004 31.17 +0.19 pp
2003 30.98 +0.18 pp
2002 30.8 +0.11 pp
2001 30.69 +0.11 pp
2000 30.58 +0.53 pp
1999 30.04 +0.5 pp
1998 29.54 +0.61 pp
1997 28.93 +0.63 pp
1996 28.3 +0.6 pp
1995 27.71 +0.25 pp
1994 27.46 +0.18 pp
1993 27.28 +0.17 pp
1992 27.1 +0.06 pp
1991 27.04 +0.29 pp
1990 26.75

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.