Female labor force participation rate in Sudan
Sudan: Female labor force participation rate was 14.5% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Female labor force participation rate in Sudan, 1990–2022
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, female labor force participation rate in Sudan stood at 14.5%. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.6% on the previous year and down 46.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Sudan peaked at 29.0% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 14.5%, in 2022.
That places Sudan 180th out of 186 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate in Sudan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 23.6% | — |
| 1991 | 24.4% | +3.5% |
| 1992 | 25.3% | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 26.1% | +3.5% |
| 1994 | 27.0% | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 28.0% | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 29.0% | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 28.7% | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 28.4% | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 28.1% | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 27.8% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 27.5% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 27.2% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 27.0% | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 26.7% | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 26.4% | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 26.1% | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 25.9% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 25.6% | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 26.5% | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 27.4% | +3.4% |
| 2011 | 28.3% | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 27.0% | -4.6% |
| 2013 | 25.7% | -4.7% |
| 2014 | 24.5% | -4.8% |
| 2015 | 23.3% | -4.9% |
| 2016 | 22.1% | -5.2% |
| 2017 | 20.9% | -5.4% |
| 2018 | 19.7% | -5.7% |
| 2019 | 18.5% | -6.3% |
| 2020 | 17.0% | -7.9% |
| 2021 | 15.8% | -7.1% |
| 2022 | 14.5% | -8.6% |
Sudan compared with similar countries
- Sudan's 14.5% is below the median for low income countries, which is 60.3%, 24% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sudan's 14.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 57.3%, 25% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 26.9% | 23.6% | 29.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.7% | 25.6% | 27.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.7% | 18.5% | 28.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.8% | 14.5% | 17.0% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sudan
More work & labour data for Sudan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.4226 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4196 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4255 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2772 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.95 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 42,261 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 38,124 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 69,735 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 67,156 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 136,891 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Sudan?
- Female labor force participation rate in Sudan was 14.5% in 2022, 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 Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 29.0% in 1996.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.5% in 2022.
- How does Sudan rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Sudan ranks 180th out of 186 countries with data for 2022.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sudan 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).