Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Pakistan
Pakistan: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 24.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Pakistan, 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 Pakistan is 24.0%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Pakistan peaked at 24.4% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 11.2%, in 1990.
Pakistan ranks 171st of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom 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 Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 11.2% | — |
| 1991 | 13.8% | +23.0% |
| 1992 | 13.8% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 14.2% | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 14.5% | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 12.6% | -13.3% |
| 1996 | 13.7% | +9.2% |
| 1997 | 14.9% | +9.0% |
| 1998 | 15.2% | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 15.7% | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 16.1% | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 16.2% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 16.2% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 17.0% | +4.8% |
| 2004 | 17.8% | +4.6% |
| 2005 | 18.3% | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 18.9% | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 19.3% | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 19.9% | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 21.0% | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 22.0% | +5.0% |
| 2011 | 22.2% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 22.5% | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 22.8% | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 23.0% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 24.0% | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 23.2% | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 22.4% | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 21.6% | -3.5% |
| 2019 | 23.2% | +7.7% |
| 2020 | 23.4% | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 24.4% | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 24.0% | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 24.0% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 24.0% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 24.0% | +0.2% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 24.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 49.7%, 48% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 24.0% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 22.2%, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 14.0% | 11.2% | 15.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.1% | 16.1% | 21.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.7% | 21.6% | 24.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.0% | 23.4% | 24.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
- 168 Nepal 27.5% compare
- 169 Tunisia 26.5% compare
- 170 Mauritania 26.2% compare
- 172 Sao Tome and Principe 22.7% compare
- 173 Lebanon 22.2% compare
- 174 Tajikistan 21.9% compare
More work & labour data for Pakistan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1658 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.1724 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.4553 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.11 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 160,228 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 146,712 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 259,090 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 251,911 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 511,001 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Pakistan?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Pakistan was 24.0% 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 24.4% in 2021.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.2% in 1990.
- How does Pakistan rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Pakistan ranks 171st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.