Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates was 84.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Burkina Faso, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Burkina Faso recorded 84.2% for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Burkina Faso peaked at 89.4% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 82.2%, in 2022.
That places Burkina Faso 64th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Burkina Faso, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 89.4% | — |
| 1991 | 89.3% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 89.2% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 89.1% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 89.1% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 89.0% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 88.9% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 88.8% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 88.8% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 88.7% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 88.6% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 88.6% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 88.5% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 88.4% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 88.3% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 88.3% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 88.2% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 88.1% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 88.1% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 88.0% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 87.9% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 87.9% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 87.8% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 87.7% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 87.7% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 87.6% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 87.5% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 87.5% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 87.4% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 87.3% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 85.6% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 84.0% | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 82.2% | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 83.1% | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 84.1% | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 84.2% | +0.1% |
Burkina Faso compared with similar countries
- Burkina Faso's 84.2% is below the median for low income countries, which is 86.4%, 97% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Burkina Faso's 84.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 86.1%, 98% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 89.0% | 88.7% | 89.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 88.3% | 88.0% | 88.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 87.6% | 87.3% | 87.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 83.9% | 82.2% | 85.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Burkina Faso
More work & labour data for Burkina Faso
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0413 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.016 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0657 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.6828 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.33 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 21,677 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 21,530 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 25,421 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 24,433 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 49,854 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Burkina Faso?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Burkina Faso was 84.2% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The highest recorded value was 89.4% in 1990.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The lowest recorded value was 82.2% in 2022.
- How does Burkina Faso rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates?
- Burkina Faso ranks 64th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rates rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Burkina Faso data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This ratio is calculated by dividing the labor force participation rate among women by the corresponding rate for men. The labor force participation rate is the share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).