Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Asia
South Asia: 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, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Asia is 42.6%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 20.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Asia peaked at 42.6% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 35.1%, in 2013.
South Asia ranks 42nd of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Asia, 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
- 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
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 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)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 33.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 59.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 35.5% (2025)
- Wage and salaried workers, total (% of total employment) 26.9% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Asia?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Asia 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?
- 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?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.1% in 2013.
- How does South Asia rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%)?
- South Asia 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?
- 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 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.