Female labor force participation rate (Labour Force) in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Female labor force participation rate (Labour Force) was 48.0% in 2014. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate in Nicaragua, 1963–2014
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2014, female labor force participation rate in Nicaragua stood at 48.0%.
That represents a change of down 25.8% on the previous year and up 7.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Nicaragua peaked at 66.7% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 13.3%, in 1980.
That places Nicaragua 131st out of 194 countries with data for 2014, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate (Labour Force) in Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 22.1% | — |
| 1971 | 20.6% | -6.6% |
| 1977 | 31.9% | +54.8% |
| 1980 | 13.3% | -58.4% |
| 1989 | 38.2% | +188.3% |
| 1990 | 39.8% | +4.0% |
| 1995 | 33.4% | -16.0% |
| 1996 | 33.7% | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 34.3% | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 34.6% | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 44.5% | +28.6% |
| 2001 | 42.0% | -5.5% |
| 2003 | 46.4% | +10.4% |
| 2004 | 44.6% | -3.9% |
| 2005 | 44.8% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 43.5% | -3.0% |
| 2007 | 43.2% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 43.7% | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 66.7% | +52.6% |
| 2013 | 64.8% | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 48.0% | -25.8% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's 48.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47.6%, 1.0× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's 48.0% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 53.7%, 90% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Female labor force participation rate (Labour Force) in Nicaragua 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 | +188.3% | 13.3% | 38.2% |
| 1980 | -58.4% | 31.9% | 13.3% |
| 1977 | +54.8% | 20.6% | 31.9% |
| 2012 | +52.6% | 43.7% | 66.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 22.1% | 22.1% | 22.1% | 1 |
| 1970s | 26.2% | 20.6% | 31.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | 25.7% | 13.3% | 38.2% | 2 |
| 1990s | 35.2% | 33.4% | 39.8% | 5 |
| 2000s | 44.1% | 42.0% | 46.4% | 8 |
| 2010s | 59.8% | 48.0% | 66.7% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
More work & labour data for Nicaragua
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 1.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 1.41 % change on previous year (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 1.36 % change on previous year (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2248 % change on previous year (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.45 % change on previous year (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 3,954 1000 No (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 2,653 1000 No (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 3,468 1000 No (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 3,356 1000 No (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 6,916 1000 No (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Nicaragua?
- Female labor force participation rate in Nicaragua was 48.0% in 2014, 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 Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 66.7% in 2012.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.3% in 1980.
- How does Nicaragua rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Nicaragua ranks 131st out of 194 countries with data for 2014.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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.