Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in United States
United States: Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 was 57.28 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
57.28
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
78th
of 194 countries
All-time high
60.03
in 1999
All-time low
37.7
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in United States, 1960–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
United States recorded 57.28 for female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in United States peaked at 60.03 in 1999 and was at its lowest, 37.7, in 1960.
That places United States 78th 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 66 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 37.7 | — |
| 1961 | 38.1 | +1.1% |
| 1962 | 37.9 | -0.5% |
| 1963 | 38.3 | +1.1% |
| 1964 | 38.7 | +1.0% |
| 1965 | 39.3 | +1.6% |
| 1966 | 40.3 | +2.5% |
| 1967 | 41.1 | +2.0% |
| 1968 | 41.6 | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 42.7 | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 43.3 | +1.4% |
| 1971 | 43.4 | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 43.9 | +1.2% |
| 1973 | 44.7 | +1.8% |
| 1974 | 45.7 | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 46.3 | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 47.3 | +2.2% |
| 1977 | 48.4 | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 50 | +3.3% |
| 1979 | 50.9 | +1.8% |
| 1980 | 51.5 | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 52.1 | +1.2% |
| 1982 | 52.6 | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 52.9 | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 53.6 | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 54.5 | +1.7% |
| 1986 | 55.3 | +1.5% |
| 1987 | 56 | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 56.6 | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 57.4 | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 57.5 | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 57.4 | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 57.8 | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 57.9 | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 58.86 | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 59.05 | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 59.34 | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 59.9 | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 59.85 | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 60.03 | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 59.94 | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 59.79 | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 59.62 | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 59.51 | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 59.16 | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 59.26 | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 59.36 | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 59.31 | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 59.47 | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 59.19 | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 58.62 | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 58.1 | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 57.68 | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 57.21 | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 56.97 | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 56.68 | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 56.8 | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 57.03 | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 57.08 | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 57.43 | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 56.2 | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 56.09 | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 56.79 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 57.33 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 57.49 | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 57.28 | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 39.57 | 37.7 | 42.7 | 10 |
| 1970s | 46.39 | 43.3 | 50.9 | 10 |
| 1980s | 54.25 | 51.5 | 57.4 | 10 |
| 1990s | 58.76 | 57.4 | 60.03 | 10 |
| 2000s | 59.46 | 59.16 | 59.94 | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.36 | 56.68 | 58.62 | 10 |
| 2020s | 56.86 | 56.09 | 57.49 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More work & labour data for United States
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 113,208 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 61.24 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 178,849 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 58.55 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.27 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.3372 % 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+) 61.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in United States?
- Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in United States was 57.28 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 60.03 in 1999.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.7 in 1960.
- How does United States rank for female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980?
- United States ranks 78th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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.
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