Female share of the labor force in Pakistan
Pakistan: Female share of the labor force was 22.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female share of the labor force in Pakistan, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female share of the labor force in Pakistan is 22.8%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female share of the labor force in Pakistan peaked at 22.8% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 10.8%, in 1990.
Pakistan ranks 170th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Female share of the labor force in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 10.8% | — |
| 1991 | 13.2% | +22.3% |
| 1992 | 13.3% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 13.8% | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 14.1% | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 12.5% | -11.7% |
| 1996 | 13.4% | +7.4% |
| 1997 | 14.4% | +7.2% |
| 1998 | 14.7% | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 15.1% | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 15.5% | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 15.5% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 15.6% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 16.3% | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 17.0% | +4.4% |
| 2005 | 17.7% | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 18.4% | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 18.8% | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 19.3% | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 20.3% | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 21.1% | +4.2% |
| 2011 | 21.4% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 21.5% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 21.7% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 22.1% | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 22.6% | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 22.0% | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 21.3% | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 20.7% | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 22.1% | +6.5% |
| 2020 | 22.3% | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 22.7% | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 22.6% | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 22.6% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 22.7% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 22.8% | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.5% | 10.8% | 15.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.4% | 15.5% | 20.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.7% | 20.7% | 22.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.6% | 22.3% | 22.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More work & labour data for Pakistan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1658 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.1724 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.4553 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.11 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 160,228 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 146,712 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 259,090 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 251,911 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 511,001 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female share of the labor force in Pakistan?
- Female share of the labor force in Pakistan was 22.8% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female share of the labor force recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 22.8% in 2025.
- What is the lowest female share of the labor force recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.8% in 1990.
- How does Pakistan rank for female share of the labor force?
- Pakistan ranks 170th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female share of the labor force rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Pakistan data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female share of the labor force. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the working-age population economically active (employed or unemployed) who are female.