Female labor force participation rate in Congo

Congo: Female labor force participation rate was 43.0% in 2012. ▼ Falling

Latest (2012)
43.0%
Change on year
down 8.9%
World rank
152nd
of 194 countries
All-time high
66.9%
in 2005
All-time low
43.0%
in 2012
Years of data
5
1974–2012

Female labor force participation rate in Congo, 1974–2012

02040601974199320121974: 56.2 %1984: 49.3 %2005: 66.9 %2009: 47.2 %2012: 43 %

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 Congo is 43.0%, measured in 2012. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.

That represents a change of down 8.9% on the previous year and down 35.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Congo peaked at 66.9% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 43.0%, in 2012.

Congo ranks 152nd of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 56.2% 56.2% 56.2% 1
1980s 49.3% 49.3% 49.3% 1
2000s 57.0% 47.2% 66.9% 2
2010s 43.0% 43.0% 43.0% 1

Countries ranked near Congo

  1. 149 Bahrain 43.5% compare
  2. 150 Kyrgyzstan 43.5% compare
  3. 151 Honduras 43.0% compare
  4. 153 Tonga 42.9% compare
  5. 154 North Macedonia 42.9% compare
  6. 155 Guinea 42.9% compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More work & labour data for Congo

All data for Congo →

Frequently asked questions

What is female labor force participation rate in Congo?
Female labor force participation rate in Congo was 43.0% in 2012, 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 Congo?
The highest recorded value was 66.9% in 2005.
What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Congo?
The lowest recorded value was 43.0% in 2012.
How does Congo rank for female labor force participation rate?
Congo ranks 152nd out of 194 countries with data for 2012.
Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Congo?
Over the last ten years it is down 35.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Congo 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

Indicator
Female labor force participation rate
Unit
%
Source
Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
194 places, 4,756 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

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.