Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 63.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Africa Eastern and Southern stood at 63.7%.
The figure is up 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 65.9% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 59.4%, in 2020.
Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 5th of 47 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 64.7% | — |
| 1991 | 64.9% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 65.0% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 65.1% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 65.3% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 65.5% | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 65.5% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 65.4% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 65.4% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 65.4% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 65.5% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 65.5% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 65.6% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 65.7% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 65.8% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 65.9% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 65.7% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 65.5% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 65.3% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 64.9% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 64.5% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 64.7% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 63.8% | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 64.6% | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 63.7% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 63.2% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 62.6% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 61.8% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 61.3% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 60.7% | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 59.4% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 59.5% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 59.8% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 63.6% | +6.3% |
| 2024 | 63.6% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 63.7% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 65.2% | 64.7% | 65.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 65.5% | 64.9% | 65.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 63.1% | 60.7% | 64.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.6% | 59.4% | 63.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
- 2 Solomon Islands 82.3% compare
- 3 Nigeria 80.7% compare
- 4 Tanzania, United Republic of 80.3% compare
- 5 Burundi 79.5% compare
- 6 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 77.7% compare
- 7 Cambodia 77.4% compare
- 8 Mozambique 77.1% compare
More work & labour data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 48.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 68.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 74.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 86.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 52.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 75.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 50.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 65.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 70.4% (2025)
- Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) 5.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Africa Eastern and Southern was 63.7% 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 Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 65.9% in 2005.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.4% in 2020.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 5th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern 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+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The labor force participation rate is the labor force as a percent of the population ages 15 and older. The labor force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed.