Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) in South Asia
South Asia: Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) was 16.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) in South Asia, 1971–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) in South Asia stood at 16.5%.
The figure is down 19.3% on the previous year and down 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) in South Asia peaked at 33.7% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 10.1%, in 2018.
South Asia ranks 18th of 22 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 17 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 17.7% | — |
| 1981 | 30.9% | +74.8% |
| 1991 | 33.7% | +9.0% |
| 1994 | 26.1% | -22.5% |
| 2000 | 27.7% | +6.3% |
| 2001 | 29.9% | +8.0% |
| 2005 | 27.8% | -7.1% |
| 2010 | 21.1% | -24.3% |
| 2012 | 17.5% | -16.8% |
| 2018 | 10.1% | -42.3% |
| 2019 | 12.2% | +20.6% |
| 2020 | 12.4% | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 12.3% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 17.6% | +43.6% |
| 2023 | 21.2% | +20.5% |
| 2024 | 20.4% | -3.6% |
| 2025 | 16.5% | -19.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 17.7% | 17.7% | 17.7% | 1 |
| 1980s | 30.9% | 30.9% | 30.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 29.9% | 26.1% | 33.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 28.5% | 27.7% | 29.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 15.2% | 10.1% | 21.1% | 4 |
| 2020s | 16.7% | 12.3% | 21.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 15 Nigeria 61.3% compare
- 16 Cayman Islands 59.0% compare
- 17 Burundi 58.1% compare
- 18 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 58.0% compare
- 19 Sweden 57.3% compare
- 20 Madagascar 57.0% compare
- 21 Rwanda 54.9% compare
More work & labour data for South Asia
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.2% (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 for ages 15-24, female (%) 19.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 35.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 55.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 59.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 33.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 42.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) in South Asia?
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) in South Asia was 16.5% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 33.7% in 1991.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.1% in 2018.
- How does South Asia rank for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%)?
- South Asia ranks 18th out of 22 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24 is the proportion of the population ages 15-24 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.