Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Denmark
Denmark: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 was 60.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Denmark, 1960–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Denmark is 60.5%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and up 6.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Denmark peaked at 62.4% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 36.5%, in 1960.
Denmark ranks 55th of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 52 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Denmark, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 36.5% | — |
| 1965 | 41.1% | +12.9% |
| 1970 | 43.9% | +6.8% |
| 1974 | 51.0% | +16.1% |
| 1976 | 52.2% | +2.3% |
| 1977 | 53.7% | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 54.9% | +2.4% |
| 1979 | 55.7% | +1.4% |
| 1981 | 57.0% | +2.4% |
| 1983 | 58.3% | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 59.3% | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 59.7% | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 60.8% | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 60.4% | -0.7% |
| 1988 | 60.8% | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 60.5% | -0.4% |
| 1990 | 61.5% | +1.5% |
| 1991 | 61.7% | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 62.4% | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 61.9% | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 58.3% | -5.8% |
| 1995 | 57.5% | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 58.7% | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 59.0% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 59.5% | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 60.0% | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 60.2% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 59.7% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 60.2% | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 59.7% | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 60.4% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 60.4% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 60.9% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 60.7% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 59.9% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 59.6% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 58.8% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 58.6% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 58.1% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 57.6% | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 57.0% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 56.7% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 57.6% | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 57.6% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 57.6% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 58.0% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 57.8% | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 58.1% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 59.4% | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 59.7% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 60.8% | +1.9% |
| 2025 | 60.5% | -0.6% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 60.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 57.2%, 1.1× the median. (79 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 60.5% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 56.9%, 1.1× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 38.8% | 36.5% | 41.1% | 2 |
| 1970s | 51.9% | 43.9% | 55.7% | 6 |
| 1980s | 59.6% | 57.0% | 60.8% | 8 |
| 1990s | 60.0% | 57.5% | 62.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.2% | 59.6% | 60.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.8% | 56.7% | 58.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.4% | 57.8% | 60.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
More work & labour data for Denmark
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.1261 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1196 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.1326 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.51 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.3351 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 5,829 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 485.03 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,899 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,964 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,863 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Denmark?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Denmark was 60.5% in 2025, 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 Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 62.4% in 1992.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.5% in 1960.
- How does Denmark rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025?
- Denmark ranks 55th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Denmark 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.