Female labor force participation rate in Australia
Australia: Female labor force participation rate was 62.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate in Australia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female labor force participation rate in Australia is 62.5%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 5.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Australia peaked at 62.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 51.8%, in 1993.
Australia ranks 33rd of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 52.9% | 51.8% | 53.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 56.7% | 54.6% | 58.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.4% | 58.7% | 61.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.0% | 60.1% | 62.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 30 Jamaica 63.0% compare
- 31 Netherlands 62.7% compare
- 32 Kazakhstan 62.6% compare
- 34 Israel 62.3% compare
- 35 Switzerland 62.2% compare
- 36 Zimbabwe 62.2% compare
More work & labour data for Australia
- 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+) 66.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 70.7% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 88.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 62.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 80.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 83.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 77.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Australia?
- Female labor force participation rate in Australia was 62.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 62.6% in 2024.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 51.8% in 1993.
- How does Australia rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Australia ranks 33rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, 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 (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).