Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)

Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income): Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 43.4% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
43.4%
Change on year
down 0.9%
Rank
15th
of 24 groups
All-time high
50.5%
in 2015
All-time low
37.8%
in 2001
Years of data
21
2001–2021

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income), 2001–2021

02040602001201120212001: 37.82002: 45.42003: 44.22004: 43.92005: 41.12006: 41.52007: 41.92008: 44.72009: 47.42010: 48.22011: 46.92012: 46.82013: 48.92014: 46.72015: 50.52016: 47.72017: 50.12018: 46.32019: 47.42020: 43.82021: 43.4

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

Analysis

In 2021, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) stood at 43.4%.

The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 7.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) peaked at 50.5% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 37.8%, in 2001.

Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) ranks 15th of 24 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income), year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income), 2001 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2001 37.8%
2002 45.4% +19.9%
2003 44.2% -2.5%
2004 43.9% -0.8%
2005 41.1% -6.3%
2006 41.5% +0.8%
2007 41.9% +1.0%
2008 44.7% +6.7%
2009 47.4% +6.2%
2010 48.2% +1.5%
2011 46.9% -2.7%
2012 46.8% -0.1%
2013 48.9% +4.4%
2014 46.7% -4.4%
2015 50.5% +8.1%
2016 47.7% -5.6%
2017 50.1% +5.1%
2018 46.3% -7.7%
2019 47.4% +2.4%
2020 43.8% -7.6%
2021 43.4% -0.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 43.1% 37.8% 47.4% 9
2010s 47.9% 46.3% 50.5% 10
2020s 43.6% 43.4% 43.8% 2

Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)

  1. 12 Bolivia 74.2% compare
  2. 13 Rwanda 73.8% compare
  3. 14 Angola 73.6% compare
  4. 15 Niger 73.4% compare
  5. 16 Bahamas 72.1% compare
  6. 17 Iceland 72.0% compare
  7. 18 Greenland 71.5% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)

All data for Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) was 43.4% in 2021, 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 Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
The highest recorded value was 50.5% in 2015.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
The lowest recorded value was 37.8% in 2001.
How does Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) ranks 15th out of 24 groups with data for 2021.
Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
Over the last ten years it is down 7.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) 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 Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income). Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-female-percent-of-female-population-ages-15-national/europe-and-central-asia-excluding-high-income/

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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.