Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 was 59.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in United Kingdom, 1961–2025
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 United Kingdom stood at 59.3%. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.4% on the previous year and up 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in United Kingdom peaked at 59.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 35.4%, in 1978.
That places United Kingdom 63rd 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 50 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 37.6% | — |
| 1966 | 41.9% | +11.6% |
| 1971 | 42.6% | +1.5% |
| 1978 | 35.4% | -16.9% |
| 1979 | 35.9% | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 35.9% | -0.0% |
| 1981 | 44.5% | +24.0% |
| 1983 | 45.6% | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 47.2% | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 48.7% | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 49.2% | +1.0% |
| 1987 | 50.0% | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 50.6% | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 52.1% | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 52.4% | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 52.3% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 52.4% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 52.5% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 52.5% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 52.5% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 52.9% | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 53.3% | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 53.3% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 53.8% | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 54.2% | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 54.1% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 54.6% | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 54.6% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 54.9% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 55.3% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 55.8% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 55.6% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 55.8% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 56.0% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 55.9% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 56.1% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 56.3% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 56.6% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 56.9% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 57.1% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 57.4% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 57.6% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 57.9% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 58.4% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 58.6% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 58.4% | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 58.2% | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 58.1% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 58.4% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 59.3% | +1.4% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 59.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 57.2%, 1.0× the median. (79 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 59.3% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 56.9%, 1.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 39.8% | 37.6% | 41.9% | 2 |
| 1970s | 38.0% | 35.4% | 42.6% | 3 |
| 1980s | 47.1% | 35.9% | 52.1% | 9 |
| 1990s | 52.8% | 52.3% | 53.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 55.1% | 54.1% | 56.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.0% | 55.9% | 58.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.5% | 58.1% | 59.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More work & labour data for United Kingdom
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 22,956 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 60.91 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 35,770 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 4.93 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.07 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 111,361 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 100,223 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 57.91 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.47 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.4352 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in United Kingdom?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in United Kingdom was 59.3% 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 59.3% in 2025.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.4% in 1978.
- How does United Kingdom rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025?
- United Kingdom ranks 63rd out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.
Download this data
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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.