Female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending by country
Share of the female working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).
Countries reporting
185
Highest
82.9%
Madagascar
Lowest
4.7%
Yemen
Median
53.3%
Years covered
36
1990–2025
Data points
6,646
What the numbers show
Female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending is currently reported for 185 countries. The highest value is 82.9% in Madagascar; the lowest is 4.7% in Yemen.
The median across all reporting countries is 53.3%, and the mean is 51.0%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 18.
Over the past decade 104 countries rose and 81 fell. The largest increase was in Saudi Arabia (up 55.2%), and the largest decrease in Afghanistan (down 73.4%).
Female labor force participation rates by family benefits public spending: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madagascar | 82.9% | 2025 | down 0.4% | flat |
| 2 | Solomon Islands | 82.3% | 2025 | down 0.3% | flat |
| 3 | Nigeria | 80.7% | 2025 | up 6.5% | flat |
| 4 | Tanzania, United Republic of | 80.3% | 2025 | up 0.2% | falling |
| 5 | Burundi | 79.5% | 2025 | down 1.6% | falling |
| 6 | North Korea | 77.7% | 2025 | up 0.1% | flat |
| 7 | Cambodia | 77.4% | 2025 | up 5.4% | flat |
| 8 | Mozambique | 77.1% | 2025 | down 1.3% | falling |
| 9 | Uganda | 75.6% | 2025 | up 2.5% | rising |
| 10 | Benin | 75.2% | 2025 | up 4.4% | rising |
| 11 | Bolivia, Plurinational State of | 72.9% | 2025 | up 27.7% | rising |
| 12 | Eritrea | 72.8% | 2025 | down 0.7% | flat |
| 13 | Niger | 72.8% | 2025 | up 17.9% | flat |
| 14 | Republic of Moldova | 72.3% | 2025 | up 4.2% | rising |
| 15 | Angola | 72.2% | 2025 | down 2.3% | flat |
| 16 | Liberia | 72.0% | 2025 | up 0.1% | flat |
| 17 | Bahamas | 70.7% | 2025 | up 0.6% | rising |
| 18 | South Sudan | 70.4% | 2023 | down 2.5% | flat |
| 19 | Iceland | 70.0% | 2025 | down 3.8% | flat |
| 20 | Viet Nam | 68.6% | 2025 | down 5.9% | falling |
| 21 | New Zealand | 66.1% | 2025 | up 5.1% | rising |
| 22 | Congo | 65.6% | 2025 | down 1.4% | flat |
| 23 | Central African Republic | 65.5% | 2025 | up 0.2% | flat |
| 24 | Peru | 65.0% | 2025 | down 3.9% | rising |
| 25 | Burkina Faso | 64.1% | 2025 | down 12.9% | falling |
| 26 | Botswana | 63.7% | 2025 | up 13.2% | rising |
| 27 | Singapore | 63.6% | 2025 | up 3.7% | rising |
| 28 | Macao | 63.1% | 2025 | down 4.6% | rising |
| 29 | Kenya | 63.0% | 2025 | down 11.7% | falling |
| 30 | Jamaica | 63.0% | 2025 | up 7.7% | flat |
| 31 | Netherlands | 62.7% | 2025 | up 3.2% | rising |
| 32 | Kazakhstan | 62.6% | 2025 | down 4.3% | flat |
| 33 | Australia | 62.5% | 2025 | up 5.7% | rising |
| 34 | Israel | 62.3% | 2025 | up 3.6% | rising |
| 35 | Switzerland | 62.2% | 2025 | down 0.2% | rising |
| 36 | Zimbabwe | 62.2% | 2025 | up 2.9% | flat |
| 37 | Norway | 62.1% | 2025 | down 1.8% | rising |
| 38 | Saint Lucia | 62.0% | 2025 | down 2.4% | rising |
| 39 | Qatar | 61.9% | 2025 | up 10.5% | rising |
| 40 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 61.8% | 2025 | up 0.0% | falling |
| 41 | Timor-Leste | 61.7% | 2025 | up 0.6% | falling |
| 42 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 61.6% | 2025 | up 9.5% | flat |
| 43 | Sweden | 61.5% | 2025 | up 1.6% | flat |
| 44 | Cyprus | 61.2% | 2025 | up 3.6% | rising |
| 45 | Barbados | 61.0% | 2025 | down 1.1% | flat |
| 46 | Estonia | 61.0% | 2025 | up 9.4% | rising |
| 47 | Denmark | 60.8% | 2025 | up 7.0% | flat |
| 48 | Azerbaijan | 60.8% | 2025 | down 0.6% | falling |
| 49 | Guinea-Bissau | 60.3% | 2025 | up 7.4% | rising |
| 50 | Canada | 60.2% | 2025 | down 1.3% | rising |
| 51 | Ireland | 59.8% | 2025 | up 9.0% | rising |
| 52 | Côte d'Ivoire | 59.5% | 2025 | up 0.4% | rising |
| 53 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 59.2% | 2025 | up 8.2% | rising |
| 54 | China | 59.1% | 2025 | down 5.5% | falling |
| 55 | Paraguay | 59.0% | 2025 | up 7.6% | rising |
| 56 | Thailand | 59.0% | 2025 | down 3.4% | falling |
| 57 | Albania | 58.6% | 2025 | up 24.3% | flat |
| 58 | Ethiopia | 58.5% | 2025 | down 16.7% | falling |
| 59 | Haiti | 58.3% | 2025 | down 5.4% | rising |
| 60 | Malawi | 58.2% | 2025 | down 6.5% | falling |
| 61 | Lithuania | 57.7% | 2025 | up 6.0% | flat |
| 62 | Luxembourg | 57.5% | 2025 | up 5.9% | rising |
| 63 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 57.3% | 2025 | up 1.1% | rising |
| 64 | Rwanda | 57.3% | 2025 | up 5.1% | rising |
| 65 | Uruguay | 57.3% | 2025 | up 1.7% | rising |
| 66 | Republic of Korea | 56.8% | 2025 | up 8.4% | rising |
| 67 | Belarus | 56.8% | 2025 | down 3.2% | rising |
| 68 | Bhutan | 56.7% | 2025 | up 3.1% | flat |
| 69 | Georgia | 56.7% | 2025 | down 3.4% | falling |
| 70 | Togo | 56.6% | 2025 | up 1.8% | flat |
| 71 | Cameroon | 56.6% | 2025 | down 13.8% | falling |
| 72 | Guam | 56.5% | 2025 | up 0.3% | falling |
| 73 | Finland | 56.5% | 2025 | up 2.0% | flat |
| 74 | Zambia | 56.4% | 2025 | up 9.0% | rising |
| 75 | United States of America | 56.3% | 2025 | up 0.7% | flat |
| 76 | Japan | 55.9% | 2025 | up 13.1% | rising |
| 77 | Malta | 55.8% | 2025 | up 29.7% | rising |
| 78 | Germany | 55.3% | 2025 | up 1.6% | rising |
| 79 | Ghana | 55.3% | 2025 | down 15.0% | falling |
| 80 | Latvia | 55.2% | 2025 | up 2.3% | rising |
| 81 | Slovakia | 55.1% | 2025 | up 6.2% | flat |
| 82 | Austria | 55.1% | 2025 | up 0.4% | rising |
| 83 | Panama | 54.9% | 2025 | up 6.7% | rising |
| 84 | Namibia | 54.9% | 2025 | down 2.5% | rising |
| 85 | Portugal | 54.6% | 2025 | up 1.7% | rising |
| 86 | Russian Federation | 54.5% | 2025 | down 1.8% | flat |
| 87 | Brunei Darussalam | 54.4% | 2025 | down 5.1% | rising |
| 88 | Hungary | 54.3% | 2025 | up 8.8% | rising |
| 89 | Indonesia | 53.7% | 2025 | up 5.8% | rising |
| 90 | Dominican Republic | 53.7% | 2025 | up 11.4% | rising |
| 91 | Czechia | 53.5% | 2025 | up 4.4% | flat |
| 92 | Brazil | 53.4% | 2025 | up 0.2% | rising |
| 93 | Vanuatu | 53.3% | 2025 | down 4.3% | falling |
| 94 | United Arab Emirates | 53.0% | 2025 | up 10.1% | rising |
| 95 | Mali | 52.8% | 2025 | down 13.7% | falling |
| 96 | Spain | 52.8% | 2025 | up 0.4% | rising |
| 97 | United States Virgin Islands | 52.8% | 2025 | down 5.2% | falling |
| 98 | Serbia | 52.6% | 2025 | up 21.6% | flat |
| 99 | Equatorial Guinea | 52.6% | 2025 | down 1.8% | flat |
| 100 | Argentina | 52.5% | 2025 | up 10.5% | rising |
| 101 | Ecuador | 52.4% | 2025 | up 0.9% | rising |
| 102 | Slovenia | 52.3% | 2025 | up 0.0% | flat |
| 103 | Hong Kong | 51.8% | 2025 | down 4.4% | rising |
| 104 | Malaysia | 51.6% | 2025 | up 1.6% | rising |
| 105 | Colombia | 51.6% | 2025 | down 6.6% | flat |
| 106 | Poland | 51.6% | 2025 | up 4.2% | flat |
| 107 | Sierra Leone | 51.6% | 2025 | down 6.3% | falling |
| 108 | France | 51.5% | 2025 | up 1.0% | rising |
| 109 | Mongolia | 51.5% | 2025 | down 3.7% | flat |
| 110 | Nicaragua | 51.3% | 2025 | up 6.0% | rising |
| 111 | Montenegro | 51.2% | 2025 | up 11.1% | rising |
| 112 | New Caledonia | 51.1% | 2025 | down 11.6% | falling |
| 113 | Armenia | 51.1% | 2025 | down 5.1% | falling |
| 114 | Papua New Guinea | 50.8% | 2025 | up 4.2% | rising |
| 115 | Philippines | 50.5% | 2025 | up 3.7% | flat |
| 116 | Cape Verde | 50.5% | 2025 | down 2.6% | rising |
| 117 | Bulgaria | 50.4% | 2025 | up 3.4% | rising |
| 118 | South Africa | 49.9% | 2025 | up 4.5% | rising |
| 119 | Belgium | 49.8% | 2025 | up 3.6% | rising |
| 120 | El Salvador | 49.1% | 2025 | up 8.8% | rising |
| 121 | Eswatini | 48.5% | 2025 | up 3.6% | rising |
| 122 | Lesotho | 48.1% | 2025 | down 11.8% | falling |
| 123 | Trinidad and Tobago | 47.8% | 2025 | down 8.1% | rising |
| 124 | Ukraine | 47.7% | 2021 | down 7.3% | falling |
| 125 | Comoros | 47.6% | 2025 | up 37.0% | rising |
| 126 | Mauritius | 47.5% | 2025 | up 2.4% | rising |
| 127 | Mexico | 47.5% | 2025 | up 8.0% | rising |
| 128 | Croatia | 47.4% | 2025 | up 1.5% | flat |
| 129 | Guyana | 47.4% | 2025 | up 12.0% | rising |
| 130 | Chad | 47.3% | 2025 | down 6.3% | falling |
| 131 | Kuwait | 47.2% | 2025 | down 4.9% | rising |
| 132 | French Polynesia | 46.6% | 2025 | down 4.8% | flat |
| 133 | Belize | 46.5% | 2025 | down 3.7% | rising |
| 134 | Costa Rica | 46.0% | 2025 | down 8.1% | rising |
| 135 | Gambia | 45.5% | 2025 | up 2.2% | flat |
| 136 | Suriname | 44.9% | 2025 | up 1.2% | rising |
| 137 | Greece | 44.7% | 2025 | up 1.4% | rising |
| 138 | Kyrgyzstan | 44.1% | 2025 | down 7.0% | falling |
| 139 | North Macedonia | 42.7% | 2025 | up 1.0% | flat |
| 140 | Guinea | 42.6% | 2025 | down 9.6% | falling |
| 141 | Tonga | 42.3% | 2025 | down 1.7% | flat |
| 142 | Bahrain | 42.3% | 2025 | down 2.5% | rising |
| 143 | Romania | 41.8% | 2025 | down 1.6% | flat |
| 144 | Gabon | 41.6% | 2025 | up 0.4% | rising |
| 145 | Uzbekistan | 41.2% | 2025 | up 4.4% | flat |
| 146 | Myanmar | 40.9% | 2025 | down 19.4% | falling |
| 147 | Italy | 40.8% | 2025 | up 3.6% | rising |
| 148 | Maldives | 40.7% | 2025 | up 5.6% | rising |
| 149 | Cuba | 40.0% | 2025 | down 9.8% | rising |
| 150 | Honduras | 39.6% | 2025 | down 15.0% | flat |
| 151 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 39.2% | 2025 | up 1.1% | falling |
| 152 | Bangladesh | 38.6% | 2025 | up 15.3% | rising |
| 153 | Fiji | 38.5% | 2025 | down 3.9% | flat |
| 154 | Guatemala | 38.3% | 2025 | down 0.3% | falling |
| 155 | Turkmenistan | 38.2% | 2025 | down 3.1% | falling |
| 156 | Senegal | 38.2% | 2025 | up 12.2% | rising |
| 157 | Türkiye | 37.1% | 2025 | up 18.2% | rising |
| 158 | Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of | 37.1% | 2025 | down 23.1% | falling |
| 159 | Puerto Rico | 36.9% | 2025 | up 15.6% | flat |
| 160 | Saudi Arabia | 33.6% | 2025 | up 55.2% | rising |
| 161 | Libya | 33.0% | 2025 | down 3.3% | rising |
| 162 | India | 32.4% | 2025 | up 22.0% | falling |
| 163 | Sri Lanka | 31.0% | 2025 | down 12.3% | falling |
| 164 | Samoa | 30.7% | 2025 | down 25.8% | falling |
| 165 | Oman | 30.0% | 2025 | up 1.1% | rising |
| 166 | Nepal | 27.5% | 2025 | up 1.7% | rising |
| 167 | Tunisia | 26.5% | 2025 | up 1.6% | rising |
| 168 | Mauritania | 26.2% | 2025 | down 1.9% | flat |
| 169 | Pakistan | 24.0% | 2025 | up 0.3% | rising |
| 170 | Sao Tome and Principe | 22.7% | 2025 | down 0.1% | rising |
| 171 | Lebanon | 22.2% | 2023 | down 10.1% | rising |
| 172 | Tajikistan | 21.9% | 2025 | down 8.4% | falling |
| 173 | Somalia | 20.7% | 2025 | down 1.2% | flat |
| 174 | Morocco | 19.7% | 2025 | down 19.2% | falling |
| 175 | Djibouti | 19.4% | 2025 | up 8.9% | rising |
| 176 | Palestine, State of | 18.9% | 2022 | up 17.1% | rising |
| 177 | Egypt | 18.5% | 2025 | down 19.1% | falling |
| 178 | Jordan | 16.0% | 2025 | up 17.9% | rising |
| 179 | Sudan | 14.5% | 2022 | down 46.5% | falling |
| 180 | Algeria | 14.1% | 2025 | down 7.3% | rising |
| 181 | Iran, Islamic Republic of | 14.0% | 2025 | down 2.4% | rising |
| 182 | Syria | 12.7% | 2025 | down 0.0% | falling |
| 183 | Iraq | 10.9% | 2025 | down 22.9% | rising |
| 184 | Afghanistan | 5.1% | 2025 | down 73.4% | falling |
| 185 | Yemen | 4.7% | 2025 | down 10.4% | falling |
About this data
Share of the female working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).