Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Australia
Australia: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 62.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Australia, 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 Australia is 62.5%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 5.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Australia peaked at 62.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 51.8%, in 1993.
That places Australia 33rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
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 Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 52.3% | — |
| 1991 | 52.0% | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 52.0% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 51.8% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 52.7% | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 53.7% | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 53.9% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 53.7% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 53.7% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 53.7% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 54.6% | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 55.2% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 55.4% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 56.0% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 55.8% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 57.0% | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 57.6% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 58.1% | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 58.6% | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 58.8% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 58.7% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 58.9% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 58.8% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 58.7% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 58.7% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 59.2% | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 59.4% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 59.9% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 60.6% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 61.0% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 60.1% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 61.5% | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 62.5% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 62.6% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 62.6% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 62.5% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 52.9% | 51.8% | 53.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 56.7% | 54.6% | 58.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.4% | 58.7% | 61.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.0% | 60.1% | 62.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 30 Jamaica 63.0% compare
- 31 Netherlands 62.7% compare
- 32 Kazakhstan 62.6% compare
- 34 Israel 62.3% compare
- 35 Switzerland 62.2% compare
- 36 Zimbabwe 62.2% compare
More work & labour data for Australia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.5057 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4907 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.5202 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.9895 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.8931 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 30,186 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 3,001 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 21,642 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 21,502 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 43,144 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Australia?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Australia was 62.5% 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 Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 62.6% in 2024.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 51.8% in 1993.
- How does Australia rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Australia ranks 33rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia 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.