Female unemployment — all countries

Female unemployment — Low-income countries

Female unemployment in low-income countries in 2025 — 6.57%. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 1.08 pp.

2025 6.57% −0.04 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 7.49%2021
Period minimum 5.29%1993

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of female labor force

Female unemployment — Low-income countries, 1991–2025567819911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 5.48%1992: 5.41%1993: 5.29%1994: 5.43%1995: 5.42%1996: 5.51%1997: 5.58%1998: 5.76%1999: 5.93%2000: 6.14%2001: 6.28%2002: 6.27%2003: 6.25%2004: 6.16%2005: 6.06%2006: 6.17%2007: 6.34%2008: 6.38%2009: 6.43%2010: 6.65%2011: 6.71%2012: 6.77%2013: 6.52%2014: 6.49%2015: 6.5%2016: 6.61%2017: 6.7%2018: 6.66%2019: 6.74%2020: 7.44%2021: 7.49%2022: 7.15%2023: 6.77%2024: 6.61%2025: 6.57%
Change over the period: +1.08 pp Annual average: 0.03 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Low-income countries 6.57%
World 4.94%
Female unemployment — Low-income countries, by year Low-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 6.57 −0.04 pp
2024 6.61 −0.16 pp
2023 6.77 −0.38 pp
2022 7.15 −0.34 pp
2021 7.49 +0.05 pp
2020 7.44 +0.7 pp
2019 6.74 +0.08 pp
2018 6.66 −0.05 pp
2017 6.7 +0.1 pp
2016 6.61 +0.1 pp
2015 6.5 +0.02 pp
2014 6.49 −0.03 pp
2013 6.52 −0.25 pp
2012 6.77 +0.06 pp
2011 6.71 +0.06 pp
2010 6.65 +0.22 pp
2009 6.43 +0.05 pp
2008 6.38 +0.03 pp
2007 6.34 +0.17 pp
2006 6.17 +0.11 pp
2005 6.06 −0.1 pp
2004 6.16 −0.09 pp
2003 6.25 −0.02 pp
2002 6.27 −0.01 pp
2001 6.28 +0.14 pp
2000 6.14 +0.21 pp
1999 5.93 +0.17 pp
1998 5.76 +0.19 pp
1997 5.58 +0.07 pp
1996 5.51 +0.08 pp
1995 5.42 −0.01 pp
1994 5.43 +0.14 pp
1993 5.29 −0.13 pp
1992 5.41 −0.07 pp
1991 5.48

About the indicator

The share of the female labor force that is unemployed. The gap with male unemployment reflects both the structure of labor demand and the barriers women face in reaching employment. In some countries the indicator looks favorable only because many women are outside the labor force altogether — it should be read alongside female labor force participation.

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