Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Panama
Panama: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 was 52.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Panama, 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 Panama stood at 52.1%.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Panama peaked at 54.5% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 24.7%, in 1960.
That places Panama 116th 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.
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Panama, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 24.7% | — |
| 1970 | 30.3% | +22.5% |
| 1979 | 34.9% | +15.2% |
| 1980 | 29.1% | -16.6% |
| 1983 | 33.5% | +15.3% |
| 1984 | 34.1% | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 35.6% | +4.5% |
| 1986 | 34.7% | -2.5% |
| 1988 | 35.9% | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 37.9% | +5.6% |
| 1990 | 32.2% | -15.0% |
| 1991 | 38.2% | +18.6% |
| 1993 | 40.6% | +6.2% |
| 1994 | 41.4% | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 42.5% | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 43.1% | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 42.5% | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 43.2% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 40.9% | -5.4% |
| 2001 | 39.4% | -3.7% |
| 2002 | 45.9% | +16.4% |
| 2003 | 46.4% | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 46.5% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 47.2% | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 45.6% | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 46.2% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 47.3% | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 47.1% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 45.6% | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 47.9% | +5.1% |
| 2013 | 49.2% | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 49.6% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 50.3% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 50.6% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 50.7% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 52.4% | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 54.5% | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 53.2% | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 46.7% | -12.2% |
| 2022 | 49.7% | +6.4% |
| 2023 | 50.4% | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 51.8% | +2.8% |
| 2025 | 52.1% | +0.6% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 52.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 57.2%, 91% of the median. (79 countries reporting)
- Panama's 52.1% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 53.7%, 97% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 24.7% | 24.7% | 24.7% | 1 |
| 1970s | 32.6% | 30.3% | 34.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | 34.4% | 29.1% | 37.9% | 7 |
| 1990s | 40.5% | 32.2% | 43.2% | 8 |
| 2000s | 45.0% | 39.4% | 47.3% | 9 |
| 2010s | 49.8% | 45.6% | 54.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.6% | 46.7% | 53.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Panama
More work & labour data for Panama
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.192 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1956 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.1888 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.03 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.09 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 4,652 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,175 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,950 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,955 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,905 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Panama?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Panama was 52.1% 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 Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 54.5% in 2019.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.7% in 1960.
- How does Panama rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025?
- Panama ranks 116th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Panama 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.