Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Bangladesh

Bangladesh: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 3.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
3.4%
Change on year
up 6.4%
World rank
142nd
of 181 countries
All-time high
7.4%
in 2013
All-time low
0.9%
in 1989
Years of data
19
1984–2024

Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Bangladesh, 1984–2024

024681984200420241984: 5.31985: 71986: 2.81989: 0.8571991: 2.11996: 2.22000: 3.32003: 4.92005: 72006: 6.42009: 7.42010: 4.42011: 5.92013: 7.42016: 6.82017: 6.72022: 4.92023: 3.22024: 3.4

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

Bangladesh recorded 3.4% for unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in 2024.

The figure is up 6.4% on the previous year and down 53.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Bangladesh peaked at 7.4% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 1989.

That places Bangladesh 142nd out of 181 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.

Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Bangladesh, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate) in Bangladesh, 1984 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1984 5.3%
1985 7.0% +32.2%
1986 2.8% -59.2%
1989 0.9% -69.8%
1991 2.1% +144.8%
1996 2.2% +4.2%
2000 3.3% +51.8%
2003 4.9% +46.2%
2005 7.0% +44.9%
2006 6.4% -8.4%
2009 7.4% +14.9%
2010 4.4% -41.1%
2011 5.9% +34.6%
2013 7.4% +26.4%
2016 6.8% -8.3%
2017 6.7% -1.7%
2022 4.9% -26.7%
2023 3.2% -33.9%
2024 3.4% +6.4%

Bangladesh compared with similar countries

  • Bangladesh's 3.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.2%, 55% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
  • Bangladesh's 3.4% is below the median for South Asia, which is 4.5%, 77% of the median. (6 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 4.0% 0.9% 7.0% 4
1990s 2.1% 2.1% 2.2% 2
2000s 5.8% 3.3% 7.4% 5
2010s 6.2% 4.4% 7.4% 5
2020s 3.9% 3.2% 4.9% 3

Countries ranked near Bangladesh

  1. 139 Bahrain 3.5% compare
  2. 140 Germany 3.5% compare
  3. 141 Madagascar 3.5% compare
  4. 143 Bulgaria 3.4% compare
  5. 144 Tanzania, United Republic of 3.4% compare
  6. 145 Singapore 3.3% compare

See the full ranking of 205 places →

More work & labour data for Bangladesh

All data for Bangladesh →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Bangladesh?
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Bangladesh was 3.4% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Bangladesh?
The highest recorded value was 7.4% in 2013.
What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Bangladesh?
The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 1989.
How does Bangladesh rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
Bangladesh ranks 142nd out of 181 countries with data for 2024.
Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in Bangladesh?
Over the last ten years it is down 53.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Bangladesh data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Bangladesh. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-female-percent-of-female-labor-force-national-estimate/bangladesh/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
205 places, 5,402 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.