Female labor force participation rate in Burundi
Burundi: Female labor force participation rate was 78.3% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate in Burundi, 1978–2020
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female labor force participation rate in Burundi is 78.3%, measured in 2020.
The figure is up 11.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Burundi peaked at 93.1% in 1979 and was at its lowest, 41.0%, in 1980.
That places Burundi 7th out of 194 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate in Burundi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 42.1% | — |
| 1979 | 93.1% | +121.0% |
| 1980 | 41.0% | -56.0% |
| 1982 | 62.2% | +51.8% |
| 1984 | 62.2% | -0.0% |
| 1986 | 87.0% | +40.0% |
| 1990 | 90.6% | +4.1% |
| 1998 | 86.0% | -5.0% |
| 2006 | 76.5% | -11.1% |
| 2008 | 70.2% | -8.3% |
| 2014 | 79.8% | +13.8% |
| 2020 | 78.3% | -2.0% |
Burundi compared with similar countries
- Burundi's 78.3% is above the median for low income countries, which is 57.6%, 1.4× the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Burundi's 78.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 57.6%, 1.4× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 67.6% | 42.1% | 93.1% | 2 |
| 1980s | 63.1% | 41.0% | 87.0% | 4 |
| 1990s | 88.3% | 86.0% | 90.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 73.3% | 70.2% | 76.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 79.8% | 79.8% | 79.8% | 1 |
| 2020s | 78.3% | 78.3% | 78.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Burundi
- 4 Nigeria 80.5% compare
- 5 Isle of Man 80.1% compare
- 6 Faroe Islands 79.4% compare
- 8 Mozambique 77.2% compare
- 9 Benin 74.7% compare
- 10 Uganda 74.7% compare
More work & labour data for Burundi
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.2923 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.2698 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.3134 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 1.39 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 4.44 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 7,183 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 18,579 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 19,365 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 18,509 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 37,874 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Burundi?
- Female labor force participation rate in Burundi was 78.3% in 2020, 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 Burundi?
- The highest recorded value was 93.1% in 1979.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Burundi?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.0% in 1980.
- How does Burundi rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Burundi ranks 7th out of 194 countries with data for 2020.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Burundi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Burundi 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.