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

Puerto Rico: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 39.5% in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
39.5%
World rank
165th
of 196 countries
All-time high
39.5%
in 2020
All-time low
20.0%
in 1960
Years of data
37
1960–2020

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Puerto Rico, 1960–2020

0102030401960199020201960: 201970: 23.71976: 26.91977: 27.71978: 27.81979: 27.91980: 28.11981: 28.51982: 28.31983: 26.81984: 26.81985: 28.21986: 28.11987: 29.31988: 31.71990: 30.91991: 31.21992: 32.11993: 34.21995: 33.71996: 34.21997: 35.21998: 35.11999: 36.72000: 34.92002: 36.32003: 372004: 36.62005: 37.92006: 38.22007: 37.12008: 36.52010: 34.12011: 33.32012: 33.52015: 31.82020: 39.5

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

Analysis

In 2020, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Puerto Rico stood at 39.5%. That is the highest value across all 37 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 15.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Puerto Rico peaked at 39.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 20.0%, in 1960.

Puerto Rico ranks 165th of 196 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 37 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Puerto Rico, 1960 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1960 20.0%
1970 23.7% +18.6%
1976 26.9% +13.2%
1977 27.7% +3.2%
1978 27.8% +0.5%
1979 27.9% +0.0%
1980 28.1% +0.8%
1981 28.5% +1.4%
1982 28.3% -0.6%
1983 26.8% -5.4%
1984 26.8% +0.2%
1985 28.2% +5.0%
1986 28.1% -0.2%
1987 29.3% +4.1%
1988 31.7% +8.3%
1990 30.9% -2.5%
1991 31.2% +1.0%
1992 32.1% +2.9%
1993 34.2% +6.5%
1995 33.7% -1.6%
1996 34.2% +1.8%
1997 35.2% +2.7%
1998 35.1% -0.2%
1999 36.7% +4.4%
2000 34.9% -4.8%
2002 36.3% +3.9%
2003 37.0% +2.1%
2004 36.6% -1.2%
2005 37.9% +3.6%
2006 38.2% +1.0%
2007 37.1% -3.0%
2008 36.5% -1.6%
2010 34.1% -6.6%
2011 33.3% -2.3%
2012 33.5% +0.6%
2015 31.8% -4.9%
2020 39.5% +23.9%

Puerto Rico compared with similar countries

  • Puerto Rico's 39.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 57.2%, 69% of the median. (79 countries reporting)
  • Puerto Rico's 39.5% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 53.7%, 74% of the median. (37 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 20.0% 20.0% 20.0% 1
1970s 26.8% 23.7% 27.9% 5
1980s 28.4% 26.8% 31.7% 9
1990s 33.7% 30.9% 36.7% 9
2000s 36.8% 34.9% 38.2% 8
2010s 33.2% 31.8% 34.1% 4
2020s 39.5% 39.5% 39.5% 1

Countries ranked near Puerto Rico

  1. 162 Timor-Leste 40.9% compare
  2. 163 Uzbekistan 39.9% compare
  3. 164 Oman 39.9% compare
  4. 166 Guyana 39.1% compare
  5. 167 Bangladesh 38.4% compare
  6. 168 Fiji 37.8% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Puerto Rico

All data for Puerto Rico →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Puerto Rico?
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Puerto Rico was 39.5% in 2020, 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 Puerto Rico?
The highest recorded value was 39.5% in 2020.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Puerto Rico?
The lowest recorded value was 20.0% in 1960.
How does Puerto Rico rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
Puerto Rico ranks 165th out of 196 countries with data for 2020.
Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
Over the last ten years it is up 15.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Puerto Rico 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 Puerto Rico. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-female-percent-of-female-population-ages-15-national/puerto-rico-us/

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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.