Female labor force participation rate — all countries

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

Female labor force participation rate in upper-middle-income countries in 2025 — 54.16%. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 6.7 pp.

2025 54.16% −0.22 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 60.87%1990
Period minimum 53.48%2020

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of women aged 15+

Female labor force participation rate — Upper-middle-income countries, 1990–202552545658606219901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 60.87%1991: 60.52%1992: 60.39%1993: 59.97%1994: 60.05%1995: 59.93%1996: 59.57%1997: 59.34%1998: 59.18%1999: 58.91%2000: 58.56%2001: 58.26%2002: 57.94%2003: 57.72%2004: 57.42%2005: 57.16%2006: 56.96%2007: 57.12%2008: 56.92%2009: 56.77%2010: 56.41%2011: 56.39%2012: 56.32%2013: 55.97%2014: 55.76%2015: 55.77%2016: 55.66%2017: 55.59%2018: 55.55%2019: 55.58%2020: 53.48%2021: 54.74%2022: 54.55%2023: 54.76%2024: 54.38%2025: 54.16%
Change over the period: −6.7 pp Annual average: -0.19 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Upper-middle-income countries 54.16%
World 48.94%
Female labor force participation rate — Upper-middle-income countries, by year Upper-middle-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 54.16 −0.22 pp
2024 54.38 −0.37 pp
2023 54.76 +0.21 pp
2022 54.55 −0.19 pp
2021 54.74 +1.26 pp
2020 53.48 −2.11 pp
2019 55.58 +0.03 pp
2018 55.55 −0.04 pp
2017 55.59 −0.07 pp
2016 55.66 −0.11 pp
2015 55.77 +0.01 pp
2014 55.76 −0.21 pp
2013 55.97 −0.35 pp
2012 56.32 −0.06 pp
2011 56.39 −0.03 pp
2010 56.41 −0.35 pp
2009 56.77 −0.15 pp
2008 56.92 −0.2 pp
2007 57.12 +0.16 pp
2006 56.96 −0.21 pp
2005 57.16 −0.26 pp
2004 57.42 −0.3 pp
2003 57.72 −0.22 pp
2002 57.94 −0.32 pp
2001 58.26 −0.31 pp
2000 58.56 −0.35 pp
1999 58.91 −0.27 pp
1998 59.18 −0.15 pp
1997 59.34 −0.23 pp
1996 59.57 −0.37 pp
1995 59.93 −0.12 pp
1994 60.05 +0.08 pp
1993 59.97 −0.42 pp
1992 60.39 −0.13 pp
1991 60.52 −0.35 pp
1990 60.87

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.