Female employment rate in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Female employment rate was 54.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female employment rate in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 54.8% for female employment rate in 2025.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and up 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female employment rate in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 56.0% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 47.9%, in 1993.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 58th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Female employment rate in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 48.0% | — |
| 1992 | 48.0% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 47.9% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 48.1% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 48.3% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 49.0% | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 49.6% | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 49.9% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 50.5% | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 51.1% | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 51.3% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 51.8% | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 51.9% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 52.2% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 52.4% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 52.6% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 52.3% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 52.6% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 52.0% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 51.6% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 51.5% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 51.6% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 52.2% | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 53.1% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 53.7% | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 54.4% | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 54.8% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 55.2% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 56.0% | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 55.9% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 55.3% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 55.6% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 55.3% | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 55.1% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 54.8% | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 48.8% | 47.9% | 50.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 52.0% | 51.1% | 52.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.4% | 51.5% | 56.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 55.3% | 54.8% | 55.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More work & labour data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 22,956 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 60.91 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 35,770 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 57.91 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.47 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.4352 % change on previous year (2027)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 61.4% (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is female employment rate in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Female employment rate in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 54.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female employment rate recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 56.0% in 2019.
- What is the lowest female employment rate recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.9% in 1993.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for female employment rate?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 58th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female employment rate rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.