Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Canada
Canada: Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 was 62.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Canada, 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 Canada stood at 62.8%.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Canada peaked at 68.5% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 41.2%, in 1961.
That places Canada 13th out of 171 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 52 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Canada, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 41.2% | — |
| 1971 | 49.3% | +19.6% |
| 1976 | 58.2% | +18.0% |
| 1977 | 59.3% | +1.9% |
| 1978 | 60.4% | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 62.4% | +3.3% |
| 1980 | 63.9% | +2.4% |
| 1981 | 64.8% | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 63.8% | -1.6% |
| 1983 | 64.5% | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 65.0% | +0.8% |
| 1985 | 65.8% | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 67.1% | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 67.5% | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 68.0% | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 68.5% | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 67.3% | -1.6% |
| 1991 | 66.1% | -1.9% |
| 1992 | 64.5% | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 62.2% | -3.4% |
| 1994 | 61.9% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 61.3% | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 60.4% | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 59.2% | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 60.1% | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 61.6% | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 62.9% | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 63.2% | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 65.3% | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 66.5% | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 66.1% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 65.7% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 67.2% | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 67.6% | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 67.9% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 66.4% | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 65.9% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 65.6% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 65.4% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 65.3% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 65.7% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 65.6% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 65.3% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 65.3% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 64.7% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 66.2% | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 62.0% | -6.4% |
| 2021 | 64.4% | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 66.3% | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 65.2% | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 63.2% | -3.1% |
| 2025 | 62.8% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 41.2% | 41.2% | 41.2% | 1 |
| 1970s | 57.9% | 49.3% | 62.4% | 5 |
| 1980s | 65.9% | 63.8% | 68.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 62.5% | 59.2% | 67.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 65.9% | 62.9% | 67.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 65.5% | 64.7% | 66.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 64.0% | 62.0% | 66.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 10 Niger 64.8% compare
- 11 Mozambique 64.4% compare
- 12 New Zealand 63.8% compare
- 14 Cambodia 61.6% compare
- 15 Nigeria 61.3% compare
- 16 Cayman Islands 59.0% compare
More work & labour data for Canada
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.3281 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.3334 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.3231 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.29 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.6552 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 39,234 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,715 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 26,798 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 26,814 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 53,612 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Canada?
- Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Canada was 62.8% 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 68.5% in 1989.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.2% in 1961.
- How does Canada rank for labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023?
- Canada ranks 13th 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 Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada 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.