Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in South Asia
South Asia: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 33.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in South Asia, 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 South Asia stood at 33.0%.
That represents a change of up 20.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in South Asia peaked at 34.0% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 27.5%, in 2014.
That places South Asia 42nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 29.7% | — |
| 1991 | 29.8% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 29.8% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 30.0% | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 30.2% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 30.7% | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 31.3% | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 31.9% | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 32.5% | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 33.0% | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 33.6% | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 33.7% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 33.8% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 33.9% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 33.9% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 34.0% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 32.9% | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 31.9% | -2.9% |
| 2008 | 31.0% | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 30.1% | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 29.2% | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 28.4% | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 27.7% | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 27.5% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 27.5% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 27.5% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 27.5% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 27.8% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 27.9% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 28.0% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 27.6% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 29.3% | +6.1% |
| 2022 | 30.9% | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 32.0% | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 33.0% | +2.9% |
| 2025 | 33.0% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.9% | 29.7% | 33.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.9% | 30.1% | 34.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.9% | 27.5% | 29.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.0% | 27.6% | 33.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 39 Qatar 61.9% compare
- 40 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 61.8% compare
- 41 Timor-Leste 61.7% compare
- 42 Lao People's Democratic Republic 61.6% compare
- 43 Sweden 61.5% compare
- 44 Cyprus 61.2% compare
- 45 Barbados 61.0% compare
More work & labour data for South Asia
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 42.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 55.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 19.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 45.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 33.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 59.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 35.5% (2025)
- Wage and salaried workers, total (% of total employment) 26.9% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in South Asia?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in South Asia was 33.0% 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 34.0% in 2005.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.5% in 2014.
- How does South Asia rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- South Asia ranks 42nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia 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.