Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 51.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nicaragua, 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 Nicaragua stood at 51.3%. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nicaragua peaked at 51.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 32.8%, in 1993.
That places Nicaragua 111th 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 Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 33.0% | — |
| 1991 | 32.9% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 32.9% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 32.8% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 33.0% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 33.4% | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 33.7% | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 34.0% | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 34.2% | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 35.1% | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 35.9% | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 36.7% | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 37.6% | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 38.4% | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 39.3% | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 40.1% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 41.0% | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 41.8% | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 42.7% | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 43.6% | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 44.4% | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 45.3% | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 46.2% | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 47.1% | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 47.9% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 48.3% | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 48.7% | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 49.1% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 48.9% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 48.6% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 48.1% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 49.1% | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 50.1% | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 50.7% | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 51.1% | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 51.3% | +0.3% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's 51.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 49.7%, 1.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's 51.3% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 52.5%, 98% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 33.5% | 32.8% | 35.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 39.7% | 35.9% | 43.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.5% | 44.4% | 49.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.1% | 48.1% | 51.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
- 108 Sierra Leone 51.6% compare
- 109 France 51.5% compare
- 110 Mongolia 51.5% compare
- 112 Montenegro 51.2% compare
- 113 New Caledonia 51.1% compare
- 114 Armenia 51.1% compare
More work & labour data for Nicaragua
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 1.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 1.41 % change on previous year (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 1.36 % change on previous year (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2248 % change on previous year (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.45 % change on previous year (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 3,954 1000 No (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 2,653 1000 No (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 3,468 1000 No (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 3,356 1000 No (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 6,916 1000 No (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nicaragua?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nicaragua was 51.3% 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 Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 51.3% in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.8% in 1993.
- How does Nicaragua rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Nicaragua ranks 111th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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.