Female labor force participation rate in Mali
Mali: Female labor force participation rate was 52.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Female labor force participation rate in Mali, 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 Mali is 52.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 13.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Mali peaked at 61.2% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 50.6%, in 2020.
Mali ranks 96th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate in Mali, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 60.5% | — |
| 1991 | 60.5% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 60.4% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 60.4% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 60.4% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 60.4% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 60.4% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 60.4% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 60.5% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 60.5% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 60.5% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 60.5% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 60.6% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 60.6% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 60.6% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 60.5% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 60.5% | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 60.5% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 60.4% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 60.4% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 60.4% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 60.3% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 60.2% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 60.2% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 60.1% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 61.2% | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 59.6% | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 57.9% | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 55.6% | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 53.4% | -4.0% |
| 2020 | 50.6% | -5.2% |
| 2021 | 53.0% | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 53.0% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 53.1% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 53.1% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 52.8% | -0.5% |
Mali compared with similar countries
- Mali's 52.8% is below the median for low income countries, which is 60.3%, 88% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Mali's 52.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 57.3%, 92% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 60.4% | 60.4% | 60.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.5% | 60.4% | 60.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.9% | 53.4% | 61.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.6% | 50.6% | 53.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mali
More work & labour data for Mali
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.3916 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.3606 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4218 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.5389 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.02 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 27,825 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 16,195 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 40,192 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 39,162 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 79,354 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Mali?
- Female labor force participation rate in Mali was 52.8% 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 Mali?
- The highest recorded value was 61.2% in 2015.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Mali?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.6% in 2020.
- How does Mali rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Mali ranks 96th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Mali?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Mali 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).