Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Germany
Germany: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 was 56.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Germany, 1983–2025
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. 2024 in Germany stood at 56.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Germany peaked at 56.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 40.1%, in 1983.
That places Germany 84th 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 43 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 41.4% | 40.1% | 42.5% | 7 |
| 1990s | 47.8% | 45.4% | 49.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 50.9% | 48.9% | 53.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.9% | 52.7% | 56.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 56.2% | 55.4% | 56.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More work & labour data for Germany
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 60.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 66.1% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 83.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 55.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 80.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 83.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 76.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Germany?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Germany was 56.9% 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. 2024 recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 56.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.1% in 1983.
- How does Germany rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024?
- Germany ranks 84th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Germany 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. 2024. 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.