Female labor force participation rate in Kenya
Kenya: Female labor force participation rate was 63.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Female labor force participation rate in Kenya, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 63.0% for female labor force participation rate in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Kenya peaked at 71.4% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 62.2%, in 2020.
That places Kenya 29th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 70.1% | 69.7% | 70.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 70.7% | 70.5% | 71.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.6% | 62.8% | 71.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.8% | 62.2% | 63.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More work & labour data for Kenya
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 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+) 67.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 33.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 71.8% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 87.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 63.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 63.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 37.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Kenya?
- Female labor force participation rate in Kenya was 63.0% 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 71.4% in 2016.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 62.2% in 2020.
- How does Kenya rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Kenya ranks 29th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya 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).