Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Turkey
Turkey: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 was 36.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Turkey, 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 Turkey stood at 36.2%.
That represents a change of down 1.6% on the previous year and up 14.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Turkey peaked at 65.4% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 23.3%, in 2005.
Turkey ranks 170th of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Turkey, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 65.4% | — |
| 1965 | 56.7% | -13.4% |
| 1970 | 50.9% | -10.2% |
| 1975 | 47.4% | -6.8% |
| 1980 | 46.2% | -2.5% |
| 1985 | 44.3% | -4.2% |
| 1988 | 36.0% | -18.6% |
| 1989 | 37.4% | +3.7% |
| 1990 | 34.2% | -8.6% |
| 2000 | 26.6% | -22.2% |
| 2001 | 27.1% | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 27.9% | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 26.6% | -4.8% |
| 2004 | 23.3% | -12.2% |
| 2005 | 23.3% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 23.6% | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 23.6% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 24.5% | +3.7% |
| 2009 | 26.0% | +6.3% |
| 2010 | 27.6% | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 28.8% | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 29.5% | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 30.8% | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 30.3% | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 31.5% | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 32.5% | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 33.6% | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 34.2% | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 34.4% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 30.9% | -10.1% |
| 2021 | 32.8% | +6.3% |
| 2022 | 35.1% | +7.0% |
| 2023 | 35.8% | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 36.8% | +2.7% |
| 2025 | 36.2% | -1.6% |
Turkey compared with similar countries
- Turkey's 36.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 52.2%, 69% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Turkey's 36.2% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 56.9%, 64% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 61.1% | 56.7% | 65.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 49.1% | 47.4% | 50.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | 41.0% | 36.0% | 46.2% | 4 |
| 1990s | 34.2% | 34.2% | 34.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 25.3% | 23.3% | 27.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.3% | 27.6% | 34.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.6% | 30.9% | 36.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Turkey
- 167 Bangladesh 38.4% compare
- 168 Fiji 37.8% compare
- 169 Marshall Islands 37.3% compare
- 171 Saudi Arabia 35.2% compare
- 172 Tuvalu 35.2% compare
- 173 Nauru 34.4% compare
More work & labour data for Turkey
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 31,966 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 54.63 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 38,497 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 8.78 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.51 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 95,928 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 41,171 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 49.84 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 0.6505 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 1.11 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Turkey?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Turkey was 36.2% 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 Turkey?
- The highest recorded value was 65.4% in 1960.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Turkey?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.3% in 2005.
- How does Turkey rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025?
- Turkey ranks 170th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 rising or falling in Turkey?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Turkey 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.