Labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 in Italy
Italy: Labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 was 18.5 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
18.5
Change on year
down 4.7%
World rank
153rd
of 171 countries
All-time high
49.5
in 1981
All-time low
18.5
in 2025
Years of data
51
1961–2025
Labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 in Italy, 1961–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 in Italy stood at 18.5. That is the lowest value across all 51 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.7% on the previous year and down 14.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 in Italy peaked at 49.5 in 1981 and was at its lowest, 18.5, in 2025.
Italy ranks 153rd of 171 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 51 years of available data.
Labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 in Italy, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 39.93 | — |
| 1971 | 40.84 | +2.3% |
| 1977 | 40.17 | -1.6% |
| 1978 | 39.15 | -2.6% |
| 1979 | 39.9 | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 41.2 | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 49.5 | +20.2% |
| 1982 | 41.46 | -16.3% |
| 1983 | 43.17 | +4.1% |
| 1984 | 42.84 | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 42.19 | -1.5% |
| 1986 | 43.83 | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 43.15 | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 44.55 | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 44.97 | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 43.03 | -4.3% |
| 1991 | 41.61 | -3.3% |
| 1992 | 37.69 | -9.4% |
| 1993 | 36.19 | -4.0% |
| 1994 | 34.07 | -5.8% |
| 1995 | 33.63 | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 34.03 | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 33.88 | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 33.1 | -2.3% |
| 1999 | 33.8 | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 33.97 | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 32.46 | -4.4% |
| 2002 | 30.9 | -4.8% |
| 2003 | 30.13 | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 31.95 | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 28.73 | -10.1% |
| 2006 | 26.86 | -6.5% |
| 2007 | 25.43 | -5.3% |
| 2008 | 25.53 | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 23.67 | -7.3% |
| 2010 | 23.12 | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 22.79 | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 24 | +5.3% |
| 2013 | 23.4 | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 23.08 | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 21.68 | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 22.75 | +4.9% |
| 2017 | 22.12 | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 21.89 | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 22.01 | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 18.87 | -14.3% |
| 2021 | 20.13 | +6.7% |
| 2022 | 21.53 | +6.9% |
| 2023 | 21.64 | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 19.42 | -10.3% |
| 2025 | 18.5 | -4.7% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 18.5 is below the median for high income countries, which is 36.18, 51% of the median. (69 countries reporting)
- Italy's 18.5 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 32.3, 57% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 39.93 | 39.93 | 39.93 | 1 |
| 1970s | 40.02 | 39.15 | 40.84 | 4 |
| 1980s | 43.68 | 41.2 | 49.5 | 10 |
| 1990s | 36.1 | 33.1 | 43.03 | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.96 | 23.67 | 33.97 | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.68 | 21.68 | 24 | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.02 | 18.5 | 21.64 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Italy
- 150 Afghanistan 19.82 compare
- 151 Romania 18.9 compare
- 152 East Timor 18.58 compare
- 154 Saudi Arabia 18.29 compare
- 155 Bosnia and Herzegovina 16.63 compare
- 156 Kuwait 16.56 compare
More work & labour data for Italy
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.6708 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6794 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.662 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.03 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.0094 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 44,671 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 10,422 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 17,512 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 17,865 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 35,377 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 in Italy?
- Labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 in Italy was 18.5 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 49.5 in 1981.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.5 in 2025.
- How does Italy rank for labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980?
- Italy ranks 153rd out of 171 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Italy data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).