Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Ireland
Ireland: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 59.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Ireland, 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 Ireland stood at 59.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 9.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Ireland peaked at 60.2% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 41.7%, in 1990.
Ireland ranks 51st of 187 countries 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 Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 41.7% | — |
| 1991 | 42.5% | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 42.9% | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 44.3% | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 45.3% | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 46.3% | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 48.1% | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 48.3% | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 49.8% | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 50.8% | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 51.9% | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 52.4% | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 53.1% | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 53.2% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 53.3% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 55.0% | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 55.7% | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 57.0% | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 56.8% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 56.1% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 55.2% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 54.9% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 54.7% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 55.2% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 54.9% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 54.8% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 55.5% | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 55.6% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 56.0% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 56.2% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 55.1% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 57.9% | +5.1% |
| 2022 | 59.1% | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 60.2% | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 59.8% | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 59.8% | -0.1% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 59.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 55.1%, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 59.8% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 54.6%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 46.0% | 41.7% | 50.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 54.5% | 51.9% | 57.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.3% | 54.7% | 56.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.6% | 55.1% | 60.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 48 Azerbaijan 60.8% compare
- 49 Guinea-Bissau 60.3% compare
- 50 Canada 60.2% compare
- 52 Côte d'Ivoire 59.5% compare
- 53 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 59.2% compare
- 54 China 59.1% compare
More work & labour data for Ireland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4574 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4405 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.9335 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 4,354 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,447 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,638 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,649 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,286 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Ireland?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Ireland was 59.8% 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 60.2% in 2023.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.7% in 1990.
- How does Ireland rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Ireland ranks 51st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland 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.