Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Egypt

Egypt: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 23.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
23.8%
Change on year
up 30.5%
World rank
183rd
of 196 countries
All-time high
30.0%
in 1989
All-time low
4.4%
in 1973
Years of data
47
1960–2024

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Egypt, 1960–2024

0102030196019922024

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Egypt is 23.8%, measured in 2024.

That represents a change of up 30.5% on the previous year and up 3.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Egypt peaked at 30.0% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 4.4%, in 1973.

That places Egypt 183rd out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 47 years of available data.

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Egypt, year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Egypt, 1960 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1960 5.2%
1966 5.8% +11.8%
1973 4.4% -25.3%
1975 5.1% +17.9%
1976 6.4% +24.9%
1977 6.9% +7.7%
1978 8.3% +20.3%
1979 7.8% -6.6%
1980 7.4% -4.7%
1981 5.9% -19.7%
1982 5.8% -2.1%
1983 17.1% +194.3%
1984 18.0% +5.2%
1986 9.8% -45.4%
1989 30.0% +204.6%
1990 26.7% -10.8%
1991 22.0% -17.6%
1992 22.8% +3.5%
1993 22.1% -3.0%
1994 23.0% +3.9%
1995 21.6% -6.0%
1996 14.5% -32.9%
1998 19.6% +34.9%
1999 20.4% +4.2%
2000 13.5% -33.7%
2001 20.2% +49.4%
2002 18.4% -8.7%
2005 23.1% +25.4%
2006 21.1% -8.5%
2007 23.2% +9.6%
2008 21.7% -6.2%
2009 22.8% +4.8%
2010 23.1% +1.3%
2011 22.4% -2.9%
2012 22.4% +0.1%
2013 22.9% +2.3%
2014 23.1% +0.6%
2015 22.7% -1.7%
2016 22.9% +1.1%
2017 21.9% -4.3%
2018 18.3% -16.5%
2019 15.6% -14.7%
2020 14.4% -7.7%
2021 15.3% +6.5%
2022 15.0% -2.2%
2023 18.3% +21.7%
2024 23.8% +30.5%

Egypt compared with similar countries

  • Egypt's 23.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47.6%, 50% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
  • Egypt's 23.8% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 26.7%, 89% of the median. (21 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Egypt changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1989 +204.6% 9.8% 30.0%
1983 +194.3% 5.8% 17.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 5.5% 5.2% 5.8% 2
1970s 6.5% 4.4% 8.3% 6
1980s 13.5% 5.8% 30.0% 7
1990s 21.4% 14.5% 26.7% 9
2000s 20.5% 13.5% 23.2% 8
2010s 21.5% 15.6% 23.1% 10
2020s 17.4% 14.4% 23.8% 5

Countries ranked near Egypt

  1. 180 Pakistan 28.2% compare
  2. 181 Nepal 27.9% compare
  3. 182 Tunisia 26.7% compare
  4. 184 Afghanistan 23.3% compare
  5. 185 Kosovo 22.5% compare
  6. 185 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 22.5% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Egypt

All data for Egypt →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Egypt?
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Egypt was 23.8% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Egypt?
The highest recorded value was 30.0% in 1989.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Egypt?
The lowest recorded value was 4.4% in 1973.
How does Egypt rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
Egypt ranks 183rd out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Egypt?
Over the last ten years it is up 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Egypt data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Egypt. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-female-percent-of-female-population-ages-15-national/egypt-arab-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
220 places, 5,454 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.