Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Italy
Italy: Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 was 18.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Italy, 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 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 rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 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 rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Italy, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 39.9% | — |
| 1971 | 40.8% | +2.3% |
| 1977 | 40.2% | -1.6% |
| 1978 | 39.1% | -2.6% |
| 1979 | 39.9% | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 41.2% | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 49.5% | +20.2% |
| 1982 | 41.5% | -16.3% |
| 1983 | 43.2% | +4.1% |
| 1984 | 42.8% | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 42.2% | -1.5% |
| 1986 | 43.8% | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 43.1% | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 44.5% | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 45.0% | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 43.0% | -4.3% |
| 1991 | 41.6% | -3.3% |
| 1992 | 37.7% | -9.4% |
| 1993 | 36.2% | -4.0% |
| 1994 | 34.1% | -5.8% |
| 1995 | 33.6% | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 34.0% | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 33.9% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 33.1% | -2.3% |
| 1999 | 33.8% | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 34.0% | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 32.5% | -4.4% |
| 2002 | 30.9% | -4.8% |
| 2003 | 30.1% | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 31.9% | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 28.7% | -10.1% |
| 2006 | 26.9% | -6.5% |
| 2007 | 25.4% | -5.3% |
| 2008 | 25.5% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 23.7% | -7.3% |
| 2010 | 23.1% | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 22.8% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 24.0% | +5.3% |
| 2013 | 23.4% | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 23.1% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 21.7% | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 22.8% | +4.9% |
| 2017 | 22.1% | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 21.9% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 22.0% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 18.9% | -14.3% |
| 2021 | 20.1% | +6.7% |
| 2022 | 21.5% | +6.9% |
| 2023 | 21.6% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 19.4% | -10.3% |
| 2025 | 18.5% | -4.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 39.9% | 39.9% | 39.9% | 1 |
| 1970s | 40.0% | 39.1% | 40.8% | 4 |
| 1980s | 43.7% | 41.2% | 49.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 36.1% | 33.1% | 43.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 29.0% | 23.7% | 34.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.7% | 21.7% | 24.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.0% | 18.5% | 21.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Italy
- 150 Afghanistan 19.8% compare
- 151 Romania 18.9% compare
- 152 Timor-Leste 18.6% compare
- 154 Saudi Arabia 18.3% compare
- 155 Bosnia and Herzegovina 16.6% compare
- 156 Kuwait 16.6% 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 rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Italy?
- Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Italy was 18.5% 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 49.5% in 1981.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.5% in 2025.
- How does Italy rank for labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023?
- Italy ranks 153rd 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 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 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.