Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 was 39.5% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Puerto Rico, 1960–2020
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Puerto Rico stood at 39.5%. That is the highest value across all 37 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 15.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Puerto Rico peaked at 39.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 20.0%, in 1960.
Puerto Rico ranks 165th of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 37 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 20.0% | — |
| 1970 | 23.7% | +18.6% |
| 1976 | 26.9% | +13.2% |
| 1977 | 27.7% | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 27.8% | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 27.9% | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 28.1% | +0.8% |
| 1981 | 28.5% | +1.4% |
| 1982 | 28.3% | -0.6% |
| 1983 | 26.8% | -5.4% |
| 1984 | 26.8% | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 28.2% | +5.0% |
| 1986 | 28.1% | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 29.3% | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 31.7% | +8.3% |
| 1990 | 30.9% | -2.5% |
| 1991 | 31.2% | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 32.1% | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 34.2% | +6.5% |
| 1995 | 33.7% | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 34.2% | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 35.2% | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 35.1% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 36.7% | +4.4% |
| 2000 | 34.9% | -4.8% |
| 2002 | 36.3% | +3.9% |
| 2003 | 37.0% | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 36.6% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 37.9% | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 38.2% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 37.1% | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 36.5% | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 34.1% | -6.6% |
| 2011 | 33.3% | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 33.5% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 31.8% | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 39.5% | +23.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 20.0% | 20.0% | 20.0% | 1 |
| 1970s | 26.8% | 23.7% | 27.9% | 5 |
| 1980s | 28.4% | 26.8% | 31.7% | 9 |
| 1990s | 33.7% | 30.9% | 36.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 36.8% | 34.9% | 38.2% | 8 |
| 2010s | 33.2% | 31.8% | 34.1% | 4 |
| 2020s | 39.5% | 39.5% | 39.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
- 162 East Timor 40.9% compare
- 163 Uzbekistan 39.9% compare
- 164 Oman 39.9% compare
- 166 Guyana 39.1% compare
- 167 Bangladesh 38.4% compare
- 168 Fiji 37.8% compare
More work & labour data for Puerto Rico
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -2.19 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.36 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -2.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -2.28 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.5786 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 995.62 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 142.52 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 3,139 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 521.69 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 473.93 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Puerto Rico?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Puerto Rico was 39.5% in 2020, 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. 2024 recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 39.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.0% in 1960.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024?
- Puerto Rico ranks 165th out of 194 countries with data for 2020.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Puerto Rico 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. 2024. 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.