Female labor force participation rate in Bhutan
Bhutan: Female labor force participation rate was 55.4% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Female labor force participation rate in Bhutan, 2005–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, female labor force participation rate in Bhutan stood at 55.4%.
The figure is up 4.5% on the previous year and down 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Bhutan peaked at 66.0% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 47.7%, in 2005.
That places Bhutan 95th out of 194 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Female labor force participation rate in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 47.7% | — |
| 2006 | 55.8% | +17.0% |
| 2009 | 66.0% | +18.4% |
| 2010 | 63.9% | -3.3% |
| 2011 | 62.8% | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 63.2% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 58.9% | -6.8% |
| 2014 | 54.8% | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 55.9% | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 55.5% | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 61.2% | +10.2% |
| 2020 | 63.5% | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 65.3% | +2.8% |
| 2022 | 53.5% | -18.1% |
| 2023 | 56.8% | +6.1% |
| 2024 | 53.0% | -6.6% |
| 2025 | 55.4% | +4.5% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 55.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47.6%, 1.2× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 55.4% is above the median for South Asia, which is 36.2%, 1.5× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 56.5% | 47.7% | 66.0% | 3 |
| 2010s | 59.5% | 54.8% | 63.9% | 8 |
| 2020s | 57.9% | 53.0% | 65.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
More work & labour data for Bhutan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7164 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6963 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.7381 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.816 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.9406 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 573.27 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 420.94 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 334.32 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 356.11 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 690.43 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Bhutan?
- Female labor force participation rate in Bhutan was 55.4% 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 recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 66.0% in 2009.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.7% in 2005.
- How does Bhutan rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Bhutan ranks 95th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Bhutan 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.