Female labor force participation rate (Labour Force) in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Female labor force participation rate (Labour Force) was 38.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Female labor force participation rate in Bangladesh, 1961–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Bangladesh recorded 38.4% for female labor force participation rate in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.5% on the previous year and up 14.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Bangladesh peaked at 67.4% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 3.4%, in 1974.
Bangladesh ranks 167th of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Female labor force participation rate (Labour Force) in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 10.8% | — |
| 1974 | 3.4% | -68.1% |
| 1981 | 4.5% | +30.4% |
| 1984 | 7.9% | +77.2% |
| 1985 | 8.3% | +5.0% |
| 1986 | 9.7% | +16.7% |
| 1989 | 67.4% | +593.3% |
| 1991 | 62.6% | -7.2% |
| 1996 | 55.9% | -10.7% |
| 2000 | 55.9% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 26.1% | -53.3% |
| 2006 | 29.0% | +11.2% |
| 2010 | 35.5% | +22.4% |
| 2011 | 8.7% | -75.5% |
| 2013 | 33.6% | +286.6% |
| 2016 | 35.6% | +6.1% |
| 2017 | 36.3% | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 43.4% | +19.3% |
| 2023 | 41.5% | -4.2% |
| 2024 | 38.4% | -7.5% |
Bangladesh compared with similar countries
- Bangladesh's 38.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47.6%, 81% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Bangladesh's 38.4% is above the median for South Asia, which is 36.2%, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Female labor force participation rate (Labour Force) in Bangladesh changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +593.3% | 9.7% | 67.4% |
| 2013 | +286.6% | 8.7% | 33.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 10.8% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 1 |
| 1970s | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 1 |
| 1980s | 19.6% | 4.5% | 67.4% | 5 |
| 1990s | 59.2% | 55.9% | 62.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 37.0% | 26.1% | 55.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 29.9% | 8.7% | 36.3% | 5 |
| 2020s | 41.1% | 38.4% | 43.4% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More work & labour data for Bangladesh
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4985 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4763 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.5215 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.28 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 117,837 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 84,090 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 104,333 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 104,263 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 208,597 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Bangladesh?
- Female labor force participation rate in Bangladesh was 38.4% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 67.4% in 1989.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.4% in 1974.
- How does Bangladesh rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Bangladesh ranks 167th out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bangladesh 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. 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.