Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in European Union
European Union: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 70.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in European Union, 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 European Union is 70.5%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in European Union peaked at 70.5% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 54.8%, in 1990.
That places European Union 3rd out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in European Union, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 54.8% | — |
| 1991 | 55.8% | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 55.7% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 55.7% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 56.1% | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 56.2% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 56.6% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 56.8% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 57.3% | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 58.1% | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 58.5% | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 58.7% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 59.4% | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 60.1% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 60.5% | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 61.2% | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 61.9% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 62.3% | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 62.8% | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 63.1% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 63.6% | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 64.0% | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 64.8% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 65.2% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 65.7% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 66.0% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 66.5% | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 67.1% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 67.4% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 67.9% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 67.3% | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 68.5% | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 69.5% | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 70.3% | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 70.5% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 70.5% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 56.3% | 54.8% | 58.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.9% | 58.5% | 63.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 65.8% | 63.6% | 67.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.4% | 67.3% | 70.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
- 1 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 87.3% compare
- 2 Madagascar 84.6% compare
- 3 Solomon Islands 84.3% compare
- 4 Iceland 84.0% compare
- 5 Sweden 82.3% compare
- 6 Netherlands 82.2% compare
More work & labour data for European Union
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 43.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 38.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 75.2% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 81.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 63.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 57.3% (2025)
- Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) 12.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in European Union?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in European Union was 70.5% 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 European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 70.5% in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.8% in 1990.
- How does European Union rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- European Union ranks 3rd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this European Union 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.