Female labor force participation rate in Rwanda

Rwanda: Female labor force participation rate was 73.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)
73.8%
Change on year
up 29.0%
World rank
13th
of 194 countries
All-time high
92.4%
in 1978
All-time low
48.0%
in 1989
Years of data
17
1978–2025

Female labor force participation rate in Rwanda, 1978–2025

0204060801001978200120251978: 92.4 %1989: 48 %1996: 85.1 %2000: 87.2 %2002: 77.4 %2005: 84.6 %2012: 71.7 %2014: 83.7 %2017: 54.8 %2018: 54.2 %2019: 51.9 %2020: 56.7 %2021: 52.7 %2022: 54.8 %2023: 58.1 %2024: 57.2 %2025: 73.8 %

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 Rwanda is 73.8%, measured in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 29.0% on the previous year and down 11.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Rwanda peaked at 92.4% in 1978 and was at its lowest, 48.0%, in 1989.

Rwanda ranks 13th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 17 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 92.4% 92.4% 92.4% 1
1980s 48.0% 48.0% 48.0% 1
1990s 85.1% 85.1% 85.1% 1
2000s 83.1% 77.4% 87.2% 3
2010s 63.3% 51.9% 83.7% 5
2020s 58.9% 52.7% 73.8% 6

Countries ranked near Rwanda

  1. 10 Uganda 74.7% compare
  2. 11 Cambodia 74.3% compare
  3. 12 Bolivia 74.2% compare
  4. 14 Angola 73.6% compare
  5. 15 Niger 73.4% compare
  6. 16 Bahamas 72.1% compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More work & labour data for Rwanda

All data for Rwanda →

Frequently asked questions

What is female labor force participation rate in Rwanda?
Female labor force participation rate in Rwanda was 73.8% 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 Rwanda?
The highest recorded value was 92.4% in 1978.
What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Rwanda?
The lowest recorded value was 48.0% in 1989.
How does Rwanda rank for female labor force participation rate?
Rwanda ranks 13th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Rwanda?
Over the last ten years it is down 11.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Rwanda 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.