Female labor force participation rate in Pakistan
Pakistan: Female labor force participation rate was 28.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate in Pakistan, 1961–2025
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 Pakistan stood at 28.2%. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 16.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Pakistan peaked at 28.2% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.4%, in 1972.
Pakistan ranks 180th of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.1% | 6.1% | 6.1% | 1 |
| 1970s | 6.7% | 5.4% | 7.1% | 5 |
| 1980s | 12.0% | 7.0% | 23.1% | 9 |
| 1990s | 13.9% | 11.3% | 15.3% | 8 |
| 2000s | 18.2% | 15.7% | 21.0% | 8 |
| 2010s | 22.6% | 21.0% | 24.2% | 9 |
| 2020s | 22.4% | 14.4% | 28.2% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More work & labour data for Pakistan
- 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+) 52.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 80.1% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 30.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 24.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 54.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 83.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 25.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Pakistan?
- Female labor force participation rate in Pakistan was 28.2% 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 28.2% in 2025.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.4% in 1972.
- How does Pakistan rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Pakistan ranks 180th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.