Female labor force participation rate in Germany
Germany: Female labor force participation rate was 55.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate in Germany, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, female labor force participation rate in Germany stood at 55.3%.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and up 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Germany peaked at 55.8% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 45.2%, in 1990.
That places Germany 78th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate in Germany, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 45.2% | — |
| 1991 | 47.9% | +6.1% |
| 1992 | 47.8% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 47.5% | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 48.0% | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 47.8% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 47.9% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 48.4% | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 48.5% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 49.1% | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 49.0% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 49.3% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 49.6% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 50.0% | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 49.7% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 50.7% | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 51.8% | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 52.2% | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 52.0% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 52.6% | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 52.5% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 53.7% | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 53.7% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 54.2% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 54.5% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 54.4% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 54.8% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 55.1% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 55.2% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 55.7% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 55.1% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 55.0% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 55.5% | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 55.8% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 55.6% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 55.3% | -0.6% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 55.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 55.1%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Germany's 55.3% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 54.6%, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.8% | 45.2% | 49.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 50.7% | 49.0% | 52.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.4% | 52.5% | 55.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 55.4% | 55.0% | 55.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More work & labour data for Germany
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.0436 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.0549 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.0322 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.95 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.0388 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 66,826 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 12,413 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 35,391 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 35,508 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 70,900 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Germany?
- Female labor force participation rate in Germany was 55.3% 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 55.8% in 2023.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.2% in 1990.
- How does Germany rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Germany ranks 78th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Germany 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).