Female labor force participation rate in Benin
Benin: Female labor force participation rate was 74.7% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate in Benin, 1961–2022
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, female labor force participation rate in Benin stood at 74.7%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Benin peaked at 78.3% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 38.7%, in 1979.
That places Benin 9th out of 194 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 52.5% | 52.5% | 52.5% | 1 |
| 1970s | 50.6% | 38.7% | 70.1% | 3 |
| 1980s | 38.9% | 38.9% | 38.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 59.5% | 57.6% | 61.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 70.9% | 65.6% | 78.3% | 3 |
| 2010s | 65.5% | 43.2% | 74.6% | 4 |
| 2020s | 74.7% | 74.7% | 74.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More work & labour data for Benin
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 76.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 96.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 75.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 77.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 76.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Benin?
- Female labor force participation rate in Benin was 74.7% in 2022, 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 Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 78.3% in 2003.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.7% in 1979.
- How does Benin rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Benin ranks 9th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Benin 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.