Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Pakistan
Pakistan: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 was 28.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Pakistan, 1961–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Pakistan recorded 28.2% for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in 2025. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 16.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Pakistan peaked at 28.2% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.4%, in 1972.
Pakistan ranks 180th of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 6.1% | — |
| 1972 | 5.4% | -11.4% |
| 1976 | 7.1% | +30.2% |
| 1977 | 7.1% | -0.0% |
| 1978 | 7.0% | -0.6% |
| 1979 | 7.0% | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 7.0% | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 12.6% | +78.7% |
| 1982 | 12.6% | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 11.3% | -10.0% |
| 1984 | 11.3% | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 9.2% | -18.9% |
| 1986 | 9.6% | +4.8% |
| 1988 | 11.3% | +17.8% |
| 1989 | 23.1% | +104.2% |
| 1990 | 11.3% | -51.0% |
| 1991 | 14.0% | +23.5% |
| 1992 | 14.0% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 14.3% | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 14.7% | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 12.7% | -14.0% |
| 1997 | 15.0% | +18.2% |
| 1998 | 15.3% | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 16.3% | +6.4% |
| 2002 | 16.2% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 18.0% | +10.6% |
| 2005 | 15.7% | -12.6% |
| 2006 | 19.1% | +21.5% |
| 2007 | 19.5% | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 20.0% | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 21.0% | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 22.1% | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 22.4% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 21.0% | -6.3% |
| 2013 | 22.9% | +9.2% |
| 2014 | 23.2% | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 24.2% | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 22.6% | -6.8% |
| 2018 | 21.9% | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 23.5% | +7.6% |
| 2020 | 14.4% | -38.6% |
| 2021 | 24.5% | +69.9% |
| 2025 | 28.2% | +15.0% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 28.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47.6%, 59% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 28.2% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 26.7%, 1.1× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Pakistan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +104.2% | 11.3% | 23.1% |
| 1981 | +78.7% | 7.0% | 12.6% |
| 2021 | +69.9% | 14.4% | 24.5% |
| 1990 | -51.0% | 23.1% | 11.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.1% | 6.1% | 6.1% | 1 |
| 1970s | 6.7% | 5.4% | 7.1% | 5 |
| 1980s | 12.0% | 7.0% | 23.1% | 9 |
| 1990s | 13.9% | 11.3% | 15.3% | 8 |
| 2000s | 18.2% | 15.7% | 21.0% | 8 |
| 2010s | 22.6% | 21.0% | 24.2% | 9 |
| 2020s | 22.4% | 14.4% | 28.2% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More work & labour data for Pakistan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1658 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.1724 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.4553 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.11 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 160,228 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 146,712 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 259,090 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 251,911 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 511,001 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Pakistan?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Pakistan was 28.2% 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 28.2% in 2025.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.4% in 1972.
- How does Pakistan rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025?
- Pakistan ranks 180th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.