Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income): Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 50.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income), 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) is 50.6%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) peaked at 54.9% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 49.1%, in 2008.
That places Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) 39th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 54.6% | — |
| 1991 | 54.9% | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 54.7% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 53.3% | -2.6% |
| 1994 | 54.8% | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 54.6% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 54.1% | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 53.3% | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 53.0% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 52.9% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 51.7% | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 51.6% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 51.7% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 51.2% | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 49.9% | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 49.6% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 49.5% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 49.2% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 49.1% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 49.4% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 49.6% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 49.8% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 49.7% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 49.9% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 49.7% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 50.1% | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 50.5% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 50.7% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 50.9% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 51.0% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 49.4% | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 50.1% | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 49.3% | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 49.9% | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 50.6% | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 50.6% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 54.0% | 52.9% | 54.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 50.3% | 49.1% | 51.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.2% | 49.6% | 51.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.0% | 49.3% | 50.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
More work & labour data for Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 69.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 56.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 31.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 49.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 63.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.7% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 64.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 44.0% (2025)
- Contributing family workers, male (% of male employment) 4.4% (2025)
All data for Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) was 50.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 54.9% in 1991.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.1% in 2008.
- How does Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) ranks 39th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.