Female labor force participation rate in Congo
Congo: Female labor force participation rate was 65.6% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
65.6%
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
22nd
of 186 countries
All-time high
67.1%
in 2010
All-time low
63.3%
in 2020
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Female labor force participation rate in Congo, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Congo recorded 65.6% for female labor force participation rate in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Congo peaked at 67.1% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 63.3%, in 2020.
Congo ranks 22nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Female labor force participation rate in Congo, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 65.8% | — |
| 1991 | 65.8% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 65.9% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 65.9% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 66.0% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 66.0% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 66.1% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 66.1% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 66.0% | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 66.1% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 66.3% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 66.5% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 66.5% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 66.6% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 66.7% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 66.8% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 66.9% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 67.0% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 67.0% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 67.1% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 67.1% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 67.0% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 66.9% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 66.7% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 66.6% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 66.5% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 66.5% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 66.5% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 66.5% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 66.5% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 63.3% | -4.9% |
| 2021 | 64.0% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 65.7% | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 65.6% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 65.6% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 65.6% | -0.0% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 65.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 49.7%, 1.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Congo's 65.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 57.3%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 66.0% | 65.8% | 66.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 66.8% | 66.3% | 67.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.7% | 66.5% | 67.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 65.0% | 63.3% | 65.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Congo
- 19 Iceland 70.0% compare
- 20 Vietnam 68.6% compare
- 21 New Zealand 66.1% compare
- 23 Central African Republic 65.5% compare
- 24 Peru 65.0% compare
- 25 Burkina Faso 64.1% compare
More work & labour data for Congo
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.6949 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.6877 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.7017 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2906 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.46 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 9,208 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 2,302 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 10,131 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 9,894 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 20,026 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Congo?
- Female labor force participation rate in Congo was 65.6% 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 Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 67.1% in 2010.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 63.3% in 2020.
- How does Congo rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Congo ranks 22nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Congo 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).