Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries): Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 4.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries), 1992–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) is 4.8%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.1% on the previous year and down 37.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 12.0% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 4.8%, in 2024.
That places Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) 18th out of 24 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 6.6% | — |
| 1993 | 7.8% | +18.2% |
| 1994 | 8.8% | +11.9% |
| 1995 | 8.6% | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 9.3% | +8.3% |
| 1997 | 10.2% | +9.8% |
| 1998 | 11.1% | +8.7% |
| 1999 | 12.0% | +8.4% |
| 2000 | 10.9% | -9.5% |
| 2001 | 10.9% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 10.1% | -6.7% |
| 2003 | 9.9% | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 9.7% | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 9.1% | -5.6% |
| 2006 | 8.7% | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 7.7% | -11.3% |
| 2008 | 7.4% | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 8.7% | +18.2% |
| 2010 | 8.5% | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 7.8% | -7.4% |
| 2012 | 7.6% | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 7.7% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 7.6% | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 7.4% | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 7.4% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 6.9% | -5.5% |
| 2018 | 6.7% | -3.8% |
| 2019 | 7.1% | +5.9% |
| 2020 | 7.2% | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 7.0% | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 5.9% | -16.5% |
| 2023 | 5.3% | -9.5% |
| 2024 | 4.8% | -10.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.3% | 6.6% | 12.0% | 8 |
| 2000s | 9.3% | 7.4% | 10.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.5% | 6.7% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.0% | 4.8% | 7.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
More work & labour data for Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 48.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 68.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 58.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 29.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 41.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 35.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 69.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 60.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 71.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) was 4.8% 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 Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 12.0% in 1999.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.8% in 2024.
- How does Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 18th out of 24 groups with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) 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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About this data
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.