Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 was 59.27 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
59.27
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
63rd
of 194 countries
All-time high
59.27
in 2025
All-time low
35.38
in 1978
Years of data
50
1961–2025
Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in United Kingdom, 1961–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in United Kingdom stood at 59.27. 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 rates latest vs 1980 in United Kingdom peaked at 59.27 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 35.38, 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 rates latest vs 1980 in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 37.57 | — |
| 1966 | 41.94 | +11.6% |
| 1971 | 42.57 | +1.5% |
| 1978 | 35.38 | -16.9% |
| 1979 | 35.92 | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 35.92 | -0.0% |
| 1981 | 44.54 | +24.0% |
| 1983 | 45.65 | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 47.15 | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 48.7 | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 49.16 | +1.0% |
| 1987 | 49.97 | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 50.63 | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 52.09 | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 52.44 | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 52.27 | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 52.38 | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 52.47 | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 52.5 | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 52.46 | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 52.89 | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 53.3 | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 53.33 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 53.78 | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 54.19 | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 54.08 | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 54.64 | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 54.55 | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 54.93 | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 55.28 | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 55.79 | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 55.55 | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 55.84 | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 55.99 | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 55.91 | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 56.05 | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 56.29 | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 56.64 | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 56.9 | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 57.06 | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 57.42 | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 57.61 | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 57.86 | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 58.43 | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 58.63 | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 58.36 | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 58.16 | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 58.11 | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 58.45 | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 59.27 | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 39.75 | 37.57 | 41.94 | 2 |
| 1970s | 37.96 | 35.38 | 42.57 | 3 |
| 1980s | 47.09 | 35.92 | 52.09 | 9 |
| 1990s | 52.78 | 52.27 | 53.78 | 10 |
| 2000s | 55.08 | 54.08 | 55.99 | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.02 | 55.91 | 58.43 | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.5 | 58.11 | 59.27 | 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)
- 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)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (2023)
- Criminal penalties or civil remedies sexual harassment in employment 1 (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 61.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in United Kingdom?
- Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in United Kingdom was 59.27 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 59.27 in 2025.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.38 in 1978.
- How does United Kingdom rank for female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980?
- United Kingdom ranks 63rd out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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