Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Mexico
Mexico: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 was 46.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Mexico, 1960–2025
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 Mexico stood at 46.5%.
That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and up 7.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Mexico peaked at 47.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 12.0%, in 1975.
Mexico ranks 140th of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Mexico, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 19.8% | — |
| 1970 | 17.9% | -9.3% |
| 1975 | 12.0% | -33.0% |
| 1978 | 24.0% | +99.9% |
| 1979 | 25.0% | +3.9% |
| 1980 | 30.1% | +20.5% |
| 1988 | 35.3% | +17.4% |
| 1990 | 21.6% | -39.0% |
| 2001 | 37.6% | +74.4% |
| 2002 | 38.1% | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 38.8% | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 39.9% | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 40.9% | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 42.1% | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 42.4% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 42.3% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 42.8% | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 42.5% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 42.9% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 43.9% | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 43.9% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 43.1% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 43.4% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 43.5% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 43.1% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 43.5% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 44.8% | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 41.4% | -7.6% |
| 2021 | 44.3% | +7.1% |
| 2022 | 45.8% | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 47.0% | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 47.0% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 46.5% | -1.1% |
Mexico compared with similar countries
- Mexico's 46.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 52.2%, 89% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Mexico's 46.5% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 53.7%, 87% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Mexico changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | +99.9% | 12.0% | 24.0% |
| 2001 | +74.4% | 21.6% | 37.6% |
| 1990 | -39.0% | 35.3% | 21.6% |
| 1975 | -33.0% | 17.9% | 12.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 19.8% | 19.8% | 19.8% | 1 |
| 1970s | 19.7% | 12.0% | 25.0% | 4 |
| 1980s | 32.7% | 30.1% | 35.3% | 2 |
| 1990s | 21.6% | 21.6% | 21.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 40.5% | 37.6% | 42.8% | 9 |
| 2010s | 43.5% | 42.5% | 44.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.3% | 41.4% | 47.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mexico
More work & labour data for Mexico
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.5786 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.5539 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.6038 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.41 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.5363 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 144,910 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 19,369 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 65,616 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 64,633 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 130,249 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Mexico?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Mexico was 46.5% 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 Mexico?
- The highest recorded value was 47.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Mexico?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.0% in 1975.
- How does Mexico rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025?
- Mexico ranks 140th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 rising or falling in Mexico?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mexico 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.