Female labor force participation rates in Somalia
Somalia: Female labor force participation rates was 20.7 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
20.7
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
174th
of 186 countries
All-time high
21.45
in 1993
All-time low
20.55
in 2008
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Female labor force participation rates in Somalia, 1990–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female labor force participation rates in Somalia is 20.7, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rates in Somalia peaked at 21.45 in 1993 and was at its lowest, 20.55, in 2008.
Somalia ranks 174th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Female labor force participation rates in Somalia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 21.19 | — |
| 1991 | 21.23 | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 21.4 | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 21.45 | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 21.38 | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 21.32 | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 21.26 | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 21.21 | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 21.17 | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 21.12 | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 21.08 | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 21.04 | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 21 | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 20.95 | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 20.89 | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 20.79 | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 20.66 | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 20.57 | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 20.55 | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 20.57 | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 20.61 | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 20.73 | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 20.86 | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 20.89 | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 20.92 | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 20.94 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 20.97 | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 21.01 | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 21.06 | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 21.09 | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 20.89 | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 20.93 | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 20.67 | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 20.71 | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 20.72 | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 20.7 | -0.1% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 20.7 is below the median for low income countries, which is 60.29, 34% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 20.7 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 57.3, 36% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.27 | 21.12 | 21.45 | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.81 | 20.55 | 21.08 | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.91 | 20.61 | 21.09 | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.77 | 20.67 | 20.93 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
More work & labour data for Somalia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.4652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4323 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4971 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.7917 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.22 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 22,865 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 12,986 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 34,351 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 33,013 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 67,364 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rates in Somalia?
- Female labor force participation rates in Somalia was 20.7 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rates recorded in Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 21.45 in 1993.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rates recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.55 in 2008.
- How does Somalia rank for female labor force participation rates?
- Somalia ranks 174th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rates rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Somalia 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).