Female share of the labor force — all countries

Female share of the labor force — South Asia

Female share of the labor force in South Asia in 2025 — 29.09%. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 4.01 pp.

2025 29.09% +0 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 29.09%2025
Period minimum 25.07%1990

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of labor force

Female share of the labor force — South Asia, 1990–20252426283019901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 25.07%1991: 25.12%1992: 25.19%1993: 25.32%1994: 25.45%1995: 25.77%1996: 26.12%1997: 26.46%1998: 26.86%1999: 27.16%2000: 27.49%2001: 27.64%2002: 27.78%2003: 27.94%2004: 28.09%2005: 28.26%2006: 27.7%2007: 27.28%2008: 26.87%2009: 26.46%2010: 26.06%2011: 25.65%2012: 25.22%2013: 25.19%2014: 25.23%2015: 25.32%2016: 25.42%2017: 25.71%2018: 25.86%2019: 26.02%2020: 25.96%2021: 27.04%2022: 27.95%2023: 28.6%2024: 29.09%2025: 29.09%
Change over the period: +4.01 pp Annual average: 0.11 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

South Asia 29.09%
World 40.18%
Female share of the labor force — South Asia, by year South Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 29.09 +0 pp
2024 29.09 +0.49 pp
2023 28.6 +0.64 pp
2022 27.95 +0.91 pp
2021 27.04 +1.08 pp
2020 25.96 −0.06 pp
2019 26.02 +0.16 pp
2018 25.86 +0.15 pp
2017 25.71 +0.29 pp
2016 25.42 +0.09 pp
2015 25.32 +0.1 pp
2014 25.23 +0.04 pp
2013 25.19 −0.03 pp
2012 25.22 −0.43 pp
2011 25.65 −0.41 pp
2010 26.06 −0.4 pp
2009 26.46 −0.41 pp
2008 26.87 −0.42 pp
2007 27.28 −0.42 pp
2006 27.7 −0.55 pp
2005 28.26 +0.16 pp
2004 28.09 +0.16 pp
2003 27.94 +0.15 pp
2002 27.78 +0.15 pp
2001 27.64 +0.15 pp
2000 27.49 +0.33 pp
1999 27.16 +0.29 pp
1998 26.86 +0.41 pp
1997 26.46 +0.34 pp
1996 26.12 +0.34 pp
1995 25.77 +0.33 pp
1994 25.45 +0.13 pp
1993 25.32 +0.13 pp
1992 25.19 +0.07 pp
1991 25.12 +0.05 pp
1990 25.07

About the indicator

The share of women in the total labor force. It differs from female labor force participation in measuring composition rather than reach: the first answers what part of those working are women, the second what part of women work. Fifty percent would mean complete equality of composition; in most countries it comes to between forty and forty-eight, and in the Gulf states and South Asia to less than twenty.

Important: A measure of composition, not of access: the share can rise because men are leaving the labor market. It is worth reading together with female labor force participation.

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