Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Italy
Italy: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 was 41.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Italy, 1961–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Italy recorded 41.6% for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in 2025. That is the highest value across all 51 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 4.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Italy peaked at 41.6% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 24.6%, in 1961.
That places Italy 161st out of 194 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Italy, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 24.6% | — |
| 1971 | 25.5% | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 31.0% | +21.9% |
| 1978 | 31.0% | -0.2% |
| 1979 | 31.7% | +2.5% |
| 1980 | 32.3% | +1.9% |
| 1981 | 33.2% | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 32.7% | -1.7% |
| 1983 | 32.8% | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 32.8% | -0.0% |
| 1985 | 33.1% | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 34.1% | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 34.2% | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 34.7% | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 35.1% | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 35.0% | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 36.0% | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 34.0% | -5.5% |
| 1993 | 33.5% | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 33.5% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 33.5% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 34.0% | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 34.2% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 34.7% | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 35.4% | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 35.7% | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 36.2% | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 36.8% | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 37.3% | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 38.5% | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 38.1% | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 38.2% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 37.9% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 38.7% | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 38.2% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 38.2% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 38.4% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 39.7% | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 39.7% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 40.1% | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 39.8% | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 40.5% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 40.9% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 41.1% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 41.2% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 39.8% | -3.5% |
| 2021 | 40.1% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 40.7% | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 41.5% | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 41.5% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 41.6% | +0.3% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 41.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 57.2%, 73% of the median. (79 countries reporting)
- Italy's 41.6% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 56.9%, 73% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 24.6% | 24.6% | 24.6% | 1 |
| 1970s | 29.8% | 25.5% | 31.7% | 4 |
| 1980s | 33.5% | 32.3% | 35.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 34.4% | 33.5% | 36.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.6% | 35.7% | 38.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.9% | 38.2% | 41.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.9% | 39.8% | 41.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Italy
- 158 American Samoa 42.4% compare
- 159 Romania 42.0% compare
- 160 Chad 41.9% compare
- 162 East Timor 40.9% compare
- 163 Uzbekistan 39.9% compare
- 164 Oman 39.9% compare
More work & labour data for Italy
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.6708 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6794 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.662 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.03 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.0094 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 44,671 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 10,422 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 17,512 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 17,865 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 35,377 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Italy?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Italy was 41.6% 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 41.6% in 2025.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.6% in 1961.
- How does Italy rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025?
- Italy ranks 161st out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Italy 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.