Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in North America
North America: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 57.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in North America, 1960–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in North America stood at 57.7%.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and up 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in North America peaked at 59.9% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 37.4%, in 1961.
North America ranks 1st of 24 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in North America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 37.7% | — |
| 1961 | 37.4% | -0.8% |
| 1962 | 37.9% | +1.4% |
| 1963 | 38.3% | +1.1% |
| 1964 | 38.7% | +1.0% |
| 1965 | 39.3% | +1.6% |
| 1966 | 40.3% | +2.5% |
| 1967 | 41.1% | +2.0% |
| 1968 | 41.6% | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 42.7% | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 43.3% | +1.4% |
| 1971 | 43.1% | -0.5% |
| 1972 | 43.9% | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 44.7% | +1.8% |
| 1974 | 45.7% | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 46.3% | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 47.2% | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 48.2% | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 49.8% | +3.3% |
| 1979 | 50.8% | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 51.4% | +1.3% |
| 1981 | 52.1% | +1.3% |
| 1982 | 52.6% | +0.9% |
| 1983 | 52.9% | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 53.6% | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 54.5% | +1.7% |
| 1986 | 55.3% | +1.5% |
| 1987 | 56.0% | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 56.7% | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 57.5% | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 57.6% | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 57.5% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 57.8% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 57.9% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 58.7% | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 58.9% | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 59.2% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 59.7% | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 59.7% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 59.9% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 59.9% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 59.8% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 59.8% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 59.7% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 59.5% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 59.5% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 59.6% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 59.6% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 59.8% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 59.5% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 59.0% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 58.5% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 58.1% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 57.7% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 57.4% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 57.2% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 57.3% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 57.5% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 57.5% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 57.9% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 56.6% | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 56.6% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 57.3% | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 57.8% | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 57.9% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 57.7% | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 39.5% | 37.4% | 42.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 46.3% | 43.1% | 50.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 54.3% | 51.4% | 57.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 58.7% | 57.5% | 59.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 59.7% | 59.5% | 59.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.8% | 57.2% | 59.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.3% | 56.6% | 57.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North America
- 1 Tanzania, United Republic of 81.7% compare
- 2 Bermuda 81.0% compare
- 2 Cayman Islands 81.0% compare
- 4 Nigeria 80.5% compare
More work & labour data for North America
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 56.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 62.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 51.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 52.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 52.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 69.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 74.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.8% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 84.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 67.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in North America?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in North America was 57.7% in 2025, 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 North America?
- The highest recorded value was 59.9% in 1999.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.4% in 1961.
- How does North America rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- North America ranks 1st out of 24 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North America 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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About this data
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.