Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Asia
South Asia: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) was 44.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Asia, 1991–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Asia stood at 44.1%.
That represents a change of down 1.4% on the previous year and up 27.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Asia peaked at 48.1% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 28.4%, in 2018.
South Asia ranks 19th of 24 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 45.2% | — |
| 1994 | 36.9% | -18.3% |
| 2000 | 40.1% | +8.6% |
| 2001 | 48.1% | +19.9% |
| 2005 | 44.9% | -6.6% |
| 2010 | 37.3% | -17.0% |
| 2012 | 34.8% | -6.7% |
| 2018 | 28.4% | -18.3% |
| 2019 | 32.5% | +14.5% |
| 2020 | 35.4% | +8.9% |
| 2021 | 36.2% | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 39.1% | +8.2% |
| 2023 | 46.6% | +18.9% |
| 2024 | 44.8% | -3.8% |
| 2025 | 44.1% | -1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 41.1% | 36.9% | 45.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 44.4% | 40.1% | 48.1% | 3 |
| 2010s | 33.2% | 28.4% | 37.3% | 4 |
| 2020s | 41.0% | 35.4% | 46.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 16 Sierra Leone 92.6% compare
- 17 Naoero 92.6% compare
- 18 Faroe Islands 92.4% compare
- 19 Rwanda 92.0% compare
- 20 Sweden 91.8% compare
- 21 Tanzania, United Republic of 91.5% compare
- 22 Bahamas 91.4% 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, female (% of female population ages) 35.5% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 42.6% (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)
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 44.1% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 48.1% in 2001.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.4% in 2018.
- How does South Asia rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%)?
- South Asia ranks 19th out of 24 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 27.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate is the proportion of female labor force participation relative to male labor force participation. The labor force participation rate is the labor force as a percent of the population ages 15 and older. The labor force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed.