Female employment to population ratio in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Female employment to population ratio was 56.57 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female employment to population ratio in United Kingdom, 1978–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female employment to population ratio in United Kingdom is 56.57, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 46 years on record.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female employment to population ratio in United Kingdom peaked at 56.57 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 34.11, in 1978.
That places United Kingdom 54th out of 172 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 46 years of available data.
Female employment to population ratio in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 34.11 | — |
| 1979 | 35.06 | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 35.09 | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 41.2 | +17.4% |
| 1984 | 42.43 | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 43.35 | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 43.81 | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 44.76 | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 46.26 | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 48.38 | +4.6% |
| 1990 | 48.97 | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 48.4 | -1.2% |
| 1992 | 48.5 | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 48.41 | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 48.63 | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 48.84 | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 49.55 | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 50.21 | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 50.47 | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 51.02 | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 51.56 | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 51.85 | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 52.26 | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 52.34 | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 52.63 | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 52.84 | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 52.97 | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 52.72 | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 52.94 | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 52.33 | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 51.98 | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 51.86 | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 51.97 | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 52.58 | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 53.45 | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 54 | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 54.69 | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 55.1 | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 55.51 | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 56.41 | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 56.17 | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 55.66 | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 56.05 | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 55.97 | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 56.03 | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 56.57 | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 34.59 | 34.11 | 35.06 | 2 |
| 1980s | 43.16 | 35.09 | 48.38 | 8 |
| 1990s | 49.3 | 48.4 | 51.02 | 10 |
| 2000s | 52.44 | 51.56 | 52.97 | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.75 | 51.86 | 56.41 | 10 |
| 2020s | 56.07 | 55.66 | 56.57 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More work & labour data for United Kingdom
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 22,956 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 60.91 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 35,770 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 57.91 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.47 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.4352 % change on previous year (2027)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (2023)
- Criminal penalties or civil remedies sexual harassment in employment 1 (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 61.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female employment to population ratio in United Kingdom?
- Female employment to population ratio in United Kingdom was 56.57 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female employment to population ratio recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 56.57 in 2025.
- What is the lowest female employment to population ratio recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.11 in 1978.
- How does United Kingdom rank for female employment to population ratio?
- United Kingdom ranks 54th out of 172 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female employment to population ratio rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Female employment to population ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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