Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 50.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Papua New Guinea, 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 Papua New Guinea is 50.8%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Papua New Guinea peaked at 50.8% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 47.0%, in 1994.
That places Papua New Guinea 115th 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 Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 48.1% | — |
| 1991 | 47.9% | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 47.5% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 47.1% | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 47.0% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 47.3% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 47.1% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 47.4% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 47.7% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 47.7% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 47.9% | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 48.1% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 48.2% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 48.3% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 48.3% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 48.2% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 48.1% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 47.9% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 48.1% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 47.9% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 47.7% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 48.1% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 48.3% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 48.6% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 48.6% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 48.8% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 49.0% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 49.3% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 49.7% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 50.0% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 49.8% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 50.6% | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 50.6% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 50.6% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 50.7% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 50.8% | +0.2% |
Papua New Guinea compared with similar countries
- Papua New Guinea's 50.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 49.7%, 1.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Papua New Guinea's 50.8% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 55.9%, 91% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.5% | 47.0% | 48.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.1% | 47.9% | 48.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.8% | 47.7% | 50.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.5% | 49.8% | 50.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
- 112 Montenegro 51.2% compare
- 113 New Caledonia 51.1% compare
- 114 Armenia 51.1% compare
- 116 Philippines 50.5% compare
- 117 Cape Verde 50.5% compare
- 118 Bulgaria 50.4% compare
More work & labour data for Papua New Guinea
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0564 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.0424 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0705 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.4419 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.49 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 3,326 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 10,546 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 9,357 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 9,284 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 18,640 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Papua New Guinea?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Papua New Guinea was 50.8% 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 Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 50.8% in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.0% in 1994.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 115th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea 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
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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.