Female labor force participation rate in Libya
Libya: Female labor force participation rate was 33.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate in Libya, 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 Libya is 33.0%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Libya peaked at 34.1% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 26.5%, in 1990.
Libya ranks 162nd 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 rate in Libya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 26.5% | — |
| 1991 | 26.8% | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 27.1% | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 27.5% | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 27.9% | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 28.3% | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 28.7% | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 29.2% | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 29.6% | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 30.0% | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 30.4% | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 30.8% | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 31.1% | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 31.5% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 31.8% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 32.2% | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 32.6% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 33.0% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 33.4% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 33.7% | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 34.1% | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 34.1% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 33.9% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 34.1% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 34.1% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 34.1% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 34.1% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 34.1% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 34.0% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 34.0% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 31.0% | -8.8% |
| 2021 | 31.4% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 33.6% | +7.3% |
| 2023 | 33.5% | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 33.3% | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 33.0% | -0.9% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 33.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 51.1%, 65% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Libya's 33.0% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 22.2%, 1.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 28.2% | 26.5% | 30.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.0% | 30.4% | 33.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.1% | 33.9% | 34.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.6% | 31.0% | 33.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Libya
More work & labour data for Libya
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.1881 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1642 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.213 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.54 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.4664 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 7,184 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 939.57 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 4,815 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 4,969 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 9,784 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Libya?
- Female labor force participation rate in Libya was 33.0% 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 Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 34.1% in 2014.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.5% in 1990.
- How does Libya rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Libya ranks 162nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Libya 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).