Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in South Asia
South Asia: Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) was 15.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in South Asia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in South Asia stood at 15.4%.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and down 22.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in South Asia peaked at 21.1% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 11.7%, in 1995.
South Asia ranks 12th of 47 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 11.9% | — |
| 1992 | 11.7% | -1.7% |
| 1993 | 11.7% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 11.7% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 11.7% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 11.7% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 11.9% | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 12.1% | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 12.5% | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 12.4% | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 13.0% | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 13.4% | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 14.1% | +5.1% |
| 2004 | 14.8% | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 15.4% | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 15.7% | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 16.4% | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 16.9% | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 17.7% | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 18.5% | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 19.8% | +7.1% |
| 2012 | 21.1% | +6.5% |
| 2013 | 21.0% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 20.5% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 19.7% | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 19.3% | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 19.2% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 18.7% | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 18.7% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 16.2% | -13.8% |
| 2021 | 15.7% | -3.0% |
| 2022 | 15.5% | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 15.2% | -2.2% |
| 2024 | 15.2% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 15.4% | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.9% | 11.7% | 12.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 15.0% | 12.4% | 17.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.7% | 18.5% | 21.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.5% | 15.2% | 16.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 9 North Macedonia 24.4% compare
- 10 Sri Lanka 24.1% compare
- 11 Eswatini 23.1% compare
- 12 Romania 22.1% compare
- 13 Afghanistan 21.6% compare
- 14 Sao Tome and Principe 21.2% compare
- 15 Maldives 21.1% compare
More work & labour data for South Asia
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 45.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 19.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 33.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 35.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 55.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 59.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 33.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 42.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in South Asia?
- Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in South Asia was 15.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment in industry, female (% of female employment) recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 21.1% in 2012.
- What is the lowest employment in industry, female (% of female employment) recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.7% in 1995.
- How does South Asia rank for employment in industry, female (% of female employment)?
- South Asia ranks 12th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment in industry, female (% of female employment) rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Asia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment is defined as persons of working age who were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangement. The industry sector consists of mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, and public utilities (electricity, gas, and water), in accordance with divisions 2-5 (ISIC 2) or categories C-F (ISIC 3) or categories B-F (ISIC 4).