Female labor force participation rate in Uganda
Uganda: Female labor force participation rate was 74.7% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate in Uganda, 2002–2021
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 Uganda is 74.7%, measured in 2021.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Uganda peaked at 84.3% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 37.4%, in 2003.
Uganda ranks 10th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate in Uganda, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 81.9% | — |
| 2003 | 37.4% | -54.4% |
| 2009 | 84.3% | +125.6% |
| 2010 | 70.2% | -16.8% |
| 2011 | 77.8% | +10.9% |
| 2012 | 65.7% | -15.6% |
| 2013 | 83.7% | +27.4% |
| 2014 | 75.3% | -10.1% |
| 2017 | 69.2% | -8.0% |
| 2019 | 74.5% | +7.7% |
| 2021 | 74.7% | +0.2% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 74.7% is above the median for low income countries, which is 57.6%, 1.3× the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 74.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 57.6%, 1.3× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 67.9% | 37.4% | 84.3% | 3 |
| 2010s | 73.8% | 65.7% | 83.7% | 7 |
| 2020s | 74.7% | 74.7% | 74.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More work & labour data for Uganda
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.0408 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0266 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 1.02 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.77 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 46,664 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 59,035 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 60,822 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 60,013 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 120,835 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Uganda?
- Female labor force participation rate in Uganda was 74.7% in 2021, 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 Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 84.3% in 2009.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.4% in 2003.
- How does Uganda rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Uganda ranks 10th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Uganda 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 — 11 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.