Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Laos
Laos: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 was 61.5% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Laos, 1995–2022
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Laos stood at 61.5%.
That represents a change of down 19.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Laos peaked at 94.4% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 56.1%, in 2017.
Laos ranks 49th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Laos, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 80.3% | — |
| 2003 | 94.4% | +17.6% |
| 2005 | 66.3% | -29.8% |
| 2010 | 76.7% | +15.6% |
| 2015 | 77.1% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 56.1% | -27.2% |
| 2022 | 61.5% | +9.6% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 61.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47.6%, 1.3× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Laos's 61.5% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 54.1%, 1.1× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 80.3% | 80.3% | 80.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 80.3% | 66.3% | 94.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 69.9% | 56.1% | 77.1% | 3 |
| 2020s | 61.5% | 61.5% | 61.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More work & labour data for Laos
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 1,934 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 66.2 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 3,788 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 1.25 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.16 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 19,084 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 6,038 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 65.37 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.63 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 1.83 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Laos?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Laos was 61.5% in 2022, 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 Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 94.4% in 2003.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.1% in 2017.
- How does Laos rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025?
- Laos ranks 49th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Laos 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.