Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Bahrain
Bahrain: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 was 43.5% in 2015. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Bahrain, 1965–2015
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2015, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Bahrain stood at 43.5%.
The figure is up 65.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Bahrain peaked at 43.7% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 1965.
Bahrain ranks 149th of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Bahrain, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 2.4% | — |
| 1971 | 6.2% | +154.0% |
| 1979 | 8.6% | +39.0% |
| 1981 | 18.2% | +111.5% |
| 1985 | 17.2% | -5.9% |
| 1987 | 17.8% | +3.9% |
| 1990 | 28.0% | +57.0% |
| 1991 | 29.2% | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 29.7% | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 30.4% | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 31.1% | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 31.7% | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 32.4% | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 33.1% | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 33.7% | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 34.4% | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 35.1% | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 35.5% | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 36.4% | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 37.1% | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 37.2% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 26.4% | -29.1% |
| 2006 | 39.1% | +48.4% |
| 2010 | 43.7% | +11.6% |
| 2011 | 42.5% | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 43.5% | +2.3% |
Bahrain compared with similar countries
- Bahrain's 43.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 57.2%, 76% of the median. (79 countries reporting)
- Bahrain's 43.5% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 26.7%, 1.6× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Bahrain changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | +154.0% | 2.4% | 6.2% |
| 1981 | +111.5% | 8.6% | 18.2% |
| 1990 | +57.0% | 17.8% | 28.0% |
| 2006 | +48.4% | 26.4% | 39.1% |
| 1979 | +39.0% | 6.2% | 8.6% |
| 2005 | -29.1% | 37.2% | 26.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1 |
| 1970s | 7.4% | 6.2% | 8.6% | 2 |
| 1980s | 17.8% | 17.2% | 18.2% | 3 |
| 1990s | 31.4% | 28.0% | 34.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 35.3% | 26.4% | 39.1% | 7 |
| 2010s | 43.3% | 42.5% | 43.7% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Bahrain
More work & labour data for Bahrain
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.6429 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.5388 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.7788 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.5428 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 2,169 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 158.19 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 1,342 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 1,748 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 3,090 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Bahrain?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Bahrain was 43.5% in 2015, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Bahrain?
- The highest recorded value was 43.7% in 2010.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Bahrain?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 1965.
- How does Bahrain rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025?
- Bahrain ranks 149th out of 194 countries with data for 2015.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 rising or falling in Bahrain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bahrain data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.