Female labor force participation rate in Rwanda
Rwanda: Female labor force participation rate was 73.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Female labor force participation rate in Rwanda, 1978–2025
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.
Female labor force participation rate in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 92.4% | — |
| 1989 | 48.0% | -48.1% |
| 1996 | 85.1% | +77.4% |
| 2000 | 87.2% | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 77.4% | -11.3% |
| 2005 | 84.6% | +9.4% |
| 2012 | 71.7% | -15.2% |
| 2014 | 83.7% | +16.7% |
| 2017 | 54.8% | -34.5% |
| 2018 | 54.2% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 51.9% | -4.2% |
| 2020 | 56.7% | +9.2% |
| 2021 | 52.7% | -7.2% |
| 2022 | 54.8% | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 58.1% | +6.2% |
| 2024 | 57.2% | -1.6% |
| 2025 | 73.8% | +29.0% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 73.8% is above the median for low income countries, which is 57.6%, 1.3× the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 73.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 57.6%, 1.3× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Female labor force participation rate in Rwanda 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | +77.4% | 48.0% | 85.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
More work & labour data for Rwanda
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.267 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.2752 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2591 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.3518 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.32 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 6,483 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 15,403 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 16,639 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 16,140 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 32,779 1000 No (2100)
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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 17 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.