Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in European Union
European Union: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 51.6% 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 51.6%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in European Union peaked at 52.0% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 44.6%, in 1990.
European Union ranks 23rd of 47 groups on this measure, 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 European Union, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 44.6% | — |
| 1991 | 45.2% | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 45.1% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 45.0% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 45.1% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 45.1% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 45.3% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 45.4% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 45.7% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 46.2% | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 46.3% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 46.4% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 46.8% | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 47.3% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 47.5% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 47.9% | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 48.4% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 48.6% | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 48.9% | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 49.0% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 49.3% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 49.6% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 50.0% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 50.1% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 50.2% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 50.3% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 50.5% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 50.7% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 50.8% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 51.0% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 50.3% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 51.0% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 51.6% | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 52.0% | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 51.9% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 51.6% | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 45.3% | 44.6% | 46.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.7% | 46.3% | 49.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.2% | 49.3% | 51.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.4% | 50.3% | 52.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
- 20 Viet Nam 68.6% compare
- 21 New Zealand 66.1% compare
- 22 Congo 65.6% compare
- 23 Central African Republic 65.5% compare
- 24 Peru 65.0% compare
- 25 Burkina Faso 64.1% compare
- 26 Botswana 63.7% compare
More work & labour data for European Union
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 43.5% (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)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 81.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 38.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 70.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 75.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.8% (2025)
- Contributing family workers, male (% of male employment) 0.4% (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 51.6% 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 European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 52.0% in 2023.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.6% in 1990.
- How does European Union rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- European Union ranks 23rd 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 2.6%. 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+) (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.