Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
South Asia (IDA & IBRD): Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) was 42.6% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Asia (IDA & IBRD), 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
South Asia (IDA & IBRD) recorded 42.6% for ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 20.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) peaked at 42.6% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 35.1%, in 2013.
That places South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 42nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Asia (IDA & IBRD), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 35.6% | — |
| 1991 | 35.6% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 35.7% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 35.9% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 36.1% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 36.8% | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 37.4% | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 38.1% | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 38.9% | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 39.4% | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 40.1% | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 40.3% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 40.6% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 40.9% | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 41.2% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 41.5% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 40.3% | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 39.3% | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 38.4% | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 37.6% | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 36.8% | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 36.0% | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 35.2% | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 35.1% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 35.1% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 35.3% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 35.4% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 36.0% | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 36.3% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 36.6% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 36.5% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 38.6% | +5.6% |
| 2022 | 40.4% | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 41.6% | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 42.6% | +2.4% |
| 2025 | 42.6% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 36.9% | 35.6% | 39.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 40.0% | 37.6% | 41.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.8% | 35.1% | 36.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.4% | 36.5% | 42.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
- 39 Kenya 87.7% compare
- 40 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 87.4% compare
- 41 Estonia 87.3% compare
- 42 Canada 87.3% compare
- 43 Netherlands 87.2% compare
- 44 Switzerland 87.2% compare
- 45 Lao People's Democratic Republic 87.2% compare
More work & labour data for South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 33.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 59.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 35.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 33.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 55.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 19.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 45.4% (2025)
- Wage and salaried workers, male (% of male employment) 28.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) was 42.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) recorded in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- The highest recorded value was 42.6% in 2025.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) recorded in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.1% in 2013.
- How does South Asia (IDA & IBRD) rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%)?
- South Asia (IDA & IBRD) ranks 42nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) rising or falling in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Asia (IDA & IBRD) data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.