Labor force participation rate in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Labor force participation rate was 58.8% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
58.8%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
113th
of 186 countries
All-time high
61.9%
in 2022
All-time low
56.1%
in 2016
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Bangladesh, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate in Bangladesh is 58.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Bangladesh peaked at 61.9% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 56.1%, in 2016.
Bangladesh ranks 113th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 56.8% | — |
| 1991 | 56.9% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 57.1% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 57.2% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 57.4% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 57.5% | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 57.7% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 57.8% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 58.0% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 58.1% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 58.2% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 58.2% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 58.2% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 58.2% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 58.2% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 58.1% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 58.1% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 58.2% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 58.3% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 58.5% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 58.6% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 58.1% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 57.6% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 57.2% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 56.8% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 56.5% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 56.1% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 58.3% | +4.0% |
| 2018 | 58.9% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 59.5% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 59.8% | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 61.1% | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 61.9% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 60.9% | -1.6% |
| 2024 | 58.9% | -3.3% |
| 2025 | 58.8% | -0.2% |
Bangladesh compared with similar countries
- Bangladesh's 58.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 57.7%, 1.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Bangladesh's 58.8% is above the median for South Asia, which is 57.2%, 1.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 57.4% | 56.8% | 58.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.2% | 58.1% | 58.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.8% | 56.1% | 59.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.2% | 58.8% | 61.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More work & labour data for Bangladesh
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4985 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4763 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.5215 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.28 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 117,837 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 84,090 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 104,333 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 104,263 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 208,597 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Bangladesh?
- Labor force participation rate in Bangladesh was 58.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 61.9% in 2022.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.1% in 2016.
- How does Bangladesh rank for labor force participation rate?
- Bangladesh ranks 113th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Bangladesh data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).