Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Romania
Romania: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 was 42.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Romania, 1966–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Romania recorded 42.0% for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 7.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Romania peaked at 63.9% in 1966 and was at its lowest, 41.0%, in 2021.
That places Romania 159th out of 194 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Romania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 63.9% | — |
| 1977 | 59.7% | -6.5% |
| 1992 | 51.6% | -13.5% |
| 1995 | 60.4% | +17.1% |
| 1996 | 57.4% | -5.1% |
| 1997 | 59.7% | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 58.6% | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 58.7% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 58.2% | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 57.1% | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 51.3% | -10.2% |
| 2003 | 49.1% | -4.3% |
| 2004 | 48.7% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 46.9% | -3.8% |
| 2006 | 47.8% | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 47.5% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 46.8% | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 46.6% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 46.2% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 46.1% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 46.2% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 46.0% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 46.2% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 45.2% | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 44.4% | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 45.9% | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 45.6% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 45.6% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 45.3% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 41.0% | -9.5% |
| 2022 | 42.3% | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 41.9% | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 42.7% | +1.9% |
| 2025 | 42.0% | -1.7% |
Romania compared with similar countries
- Romania's 42.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 57.2%, 73% of the median. (79 countries reporting)
- Romania's 42.0% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 56.9%, 74% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 63.9% | 63.9% | 63.9% | 1 |
| 1970s | 59.7% | 59.7% | 59.7% | 1 |
| 1990s | 57.7% | 51.6% | 60.4% | 6 |
| 2000s | 50.0% | 46.6% | 58.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.7% | 44.4% | 46.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 42.5% | 41.0% | 45.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Romania
- 156 Gabon 42.6% compare
- 157 Bosnia and Herzegovina 42.4% compare
- 158 American Samoa 42.4% compare
- 160 Chad 41.9% compare
- 161 Italy 41.6% compare
- 162 East Timor 40.9% compare
More work & labour data for Romania
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7777 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.7486 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.8063 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.18 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1264 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 10,932 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,465 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 5,408 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 5,360 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 10,768 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Romania?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Romania was 42.0% 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 Romania?
- The highest recorded value was 63.9% in 1966.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Romania?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.0% in 2021.
- How does Romania rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025?
- Romania ranks 159th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 rising or falling in Romania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Romania 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.