Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Australia
Australia: Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 was 70.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Australia, 1961–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Australia stood at 70.9%.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 6.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Australia peaked at 72.4% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 55.3%, in 1971.
That places Australia 3rd out of 171 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Australia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 58.2% | — |
| 1966 | 60.7% | +4.4% |
| 1971 | 55.3% | -8.9% |
| 1976 | 57.3% | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 63.8% | +11.3% |
| 1980 | 66.2% | +3.6% |
| 1981 | 65.5% | -1.0% |
| 1982 | 65.4% | -0.2% |
| 1983 | 65.9% | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 66.2% | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 66.8% | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 68.0% | +1.8% |
| 1987 | 67.7% | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 67.3% | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 68.7% | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 68.9% | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 66.7% | -3.1% |
| 1992 | 66.5% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 65.7% | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 68.1% | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 69.6% | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 69.5% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 67.5% | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 67.6% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 68.0% | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 68.5% | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 69.1% | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 68.2% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 69.0% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 69.1% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 69.6% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 69.5% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 69.7% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 69.5% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 67.7% | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 67.2% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 67.5% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 66.8% | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 66.3% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 66.2% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 66.7% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 66.3% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 66.3% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 67.6% | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 67.5% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 65.9% | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 69.1% | +4.9% |
| 2022 | 72.4% | +4.7% |
| 2023 | 70.9% | -2.1% |
| 2024 | 70.2% | -1.0% |
| 2025 | 70.9% | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 59.4% | 58.2% | 60.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 58.8% | 55.3% | 63.8% | 3 |
| 1980s | 66.8% | 65.4% | 68.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 67.8% | 65.7% | 69.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 69.0% | 67.7% | 69.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.8% | 66.2% | 67.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.9% | 65.9% | 72.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 1 Iceland 84.0% compare
- 2 Netherlands 83.3% compare
- 4 Denmark 69.4% compare
- 5 Tanzania, United Republic of 69.0% compare
- 6 Norway 68.6% compare
More work & labour data for Australia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.5057 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4907 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.5202 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.9895 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.8931 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 30,186 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 3,001 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 21,642 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 21,502 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 43,144 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Australia?
- Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Australia was 70.9% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 72.4% in 2022.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 55.3% in 1971.
- How does Australia rank for labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023?
- Australia ranks 3rd out of 171 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.