Female labor force participation rates in Italy
Italy: Female labor force participation rates was 40.81 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
40.81
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
148th
of 186 countries
All-time high
41.31
in 2023
All-time low
33.1
in 1994
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Female labor force participation rates in Italy, 1990–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, female labor force participation rates in Italy stood at 40.81.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rates in Italy peaked at 41.31 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 33.1, in 1994.
Italy ranks 148th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rates in Italy, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 34.95 | — |
| 1991 | 35.48 | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 33.87 | -4.6% |
| 1993 | 33.33 | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 33.1 | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 33.14 | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 33.79 | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 33.98 | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 34.48 | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 35.16 | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 35.4 | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 35.86 | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 36.33 | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 36.8 | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 38.13 | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 37.76 | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 37.89 | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 37.67 | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 38.4 | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 37.95 | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 37.88 | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 38.07 | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 39.37 | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 39.32 | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 39.75 | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 39.39 | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 40.07 | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 40.58 | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 40.78 | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 40.91 | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 39.5 | -3.4% |
| 2021 | 39.88 | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 40.52 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 41.31 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 41.03 | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 40.81 | -0.5% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 40.81 is below the median for high income countries, which is 55.09, 74% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Italy's 40.81 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 54.59, 75% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 34.13 | 33.1 | 35.48 | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.22 | 35.4 | 38.4 | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.61 | 37.88 | 40.91 | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.51 | 39.5 | 41.31 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More work & labour data for Italy
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.6708 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6794 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.662 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.03 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.0094 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 44,671 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 10,422 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 17,512 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 17,865 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 35,377 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rates in Italy?
- Female labor force participation rates in Italy was 40.81 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rates recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 41.31 in 2023.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rates recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.1 in 1994.
- How does Italy rank for female labor force participation rates?
- Italy ranks 148th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rates rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Italy data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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