Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Canada
Canada: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 60.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Canada, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Canada recorded 60.2% for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Canada peaked at 61.9% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 56.8%, in 1996.
That places Canada 50th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Canada, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 57.9% | — |
| 1991 | 57.8% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 57.2% | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 57.0% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 56.9% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 56.8% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 56.8% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 57.1% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 57.7% | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 58.2% | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 58.7% | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 59.0% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 60.2% | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 61.2% | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 61.3% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 61.0% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 61.3% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 61.8% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 61.9% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 61.9% | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 61.9% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 61.6% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 61.7% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 61.8% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 61.2% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 61.0% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 60.9% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 61.1% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 61.0% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 61.3% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 59.4% | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 60.6% | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 61.0% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 61.1% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 60.4% | -1.2% |
| 2025 | 60.2% | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 57.3% | 56.8% | 58.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.8% | 58.7% | 61.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.3% | 60.9% | 61.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.5% | 59.4% | 61.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 47 Denmark 60.8% compare
- 48 Azerbaijan 60.8% compare
- 49 Guinea-Bissau 60.3% compare
- 51 Ireland 59.8% compare
- 52 Côte d'Ivoire 59.5% compare
- 53 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 59.2% compare
More work & labour data for Canada
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.3281 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.3334 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.3231 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.29 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.6552 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 39,234 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,715 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 26,798 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 26,814 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 53,612 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Canada?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Canada was 60.2% 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 61.9% in 2008.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.8% in 1996.
- How does Canada rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Canada ranks 50th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada 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.