Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Estonia
Estonia: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 was 61.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
61.9%
Change on year
down 1.6%
World rank
45th
of 194 countries
All-time high
66.5%
in 1990
All-time low
51.2%
in 2002
Years of data
37
1989–2025
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Estonia, 1989–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Estonia recorded 61.9% for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.6% on the previous year and up 10.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Estonia peaked at 66.5% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 51.2%, in 2002.
That places Estonia 45th out of 194 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Estonia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 64.6% | — |
| 1990 | 66.5% | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 64.8% | -2.6% |
| 1992 | 61.7% | -4.7% |
| 1993 | 59.8% | -3.1% |
| 1994 | 59.5% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 58.1% | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 57.9% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 58.5% | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 52.6% | -10.0% |
| 1999 | 51.6% | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 52.7% | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 52.3% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 51.2% | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 52.4% | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 53.3% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 53.6% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 54.8% | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 54.1% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 54.7% | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 54.7% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 55.1% | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 55.7% | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 55.4% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 55.4% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 54.6% | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 56.1% | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 56.7% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 57.4% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 57.7% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 57.8% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 57.6% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 58.3% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 60.6% | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 62.0% | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 62.9% | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 61.9% | -1.6% |
Estonia compared with similar countries
- Estonia's 61.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 57.2%, 1.1× the median. (79 countries reporting)
- Estonia's 61.9% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 64.6% | 64.6% | 64.6% | 1 |
| 1990s | 59.1% | 51.6% | 66.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 53.4% | 51.2% | 54.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 56.2% | 54.6% | 57.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.6% | 57.6% | 62.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Estonia
- 42 Saint Lucia 62.9% compare
- 43 Switzerland 62.8% compare
- 44 Singapore 62.5% compare
- 45 Azerbaijan 61.9% compare
- 47 Burkina Faso 61.9% compare
- 48 Norway 61.7% compare
More work & labour data for Estonia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6763 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.6638 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.77 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1039 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 885.23 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 259.52 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 417.66 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 407.84 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 825.5 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Estonia?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Estonia was 61.9% 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 Estonia?
- The highest recorded value was 66.5% in 1990.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Estonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 51.2% in 2002.
- How does Estonia rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025?
- Estonia ranks 45th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 rising or falling in Estonia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Estonia 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.
Download this data
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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.