Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in France
France: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 was 53.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in France, 1962–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in France stood at 53.5%. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.1% on the previous year and up 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in France peaked at 53.5% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 36.2%, in 1968.
That places France 107th out of 194 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 50 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in France, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 36.5% | — |
| 1968 | 36.2% | -0.8% |
| 1975 | 38.7% | +6.8% |
| 1979 | 40.6% | +5.1% |
| 1980 | 41.0% | +0.8% |
| 1981 | 41.3% | +0.7% |
| 1982 | 41.8% | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 45.9% | +9.8% |
| 1984 | 46.4% | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 46.5% | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 47.1% | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 46.9% | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 46.7% | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 46.8% | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 46.7% | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 46.9% | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 47.3% | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 47.8% | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 48.0% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 48.2% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 48.6% | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 48.3% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 48.6% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 48.9% | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 49.1% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 48.9% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 49.1% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 50.3% | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 50.1% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 50.4% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 50.4% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 50.8% | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 51.0% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 51.4% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 51.4% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 51.3% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 51.5% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 51.7% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 51.6% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 51.6% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 51.6% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 51.3% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 51.4% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 51.3% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 50.6% | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 52.3% | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 52.6% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 52.8% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 52.9% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 53.5% | +1.1% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 53.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 57.2%, 93% of the median. (79 countries reporting)
- France's 53.5% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 56.9%, 94% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 36.4% | 36.2% | 36.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 39.7% | 38.7% | 40.6% | 2 |
| 1980s | 45.0% | 41.0% | 47.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 47.9% | 46.7% | 48.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 50.1% | 48.9% | 51.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.5% | 51.3% | 51.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.4% | 50.6% | 53.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near France
More work & labour data for France
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.028 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.0507 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.0063 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.62 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.3323 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 62,374 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 8,235 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 35,191 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 33,294 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 68,485 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in France?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in France was 53.5% 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 53.5% in 2025.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.2% in 1968.
- How does France rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025?
- France ranks 107th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this France 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
CSV · JSON — 50 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.