Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Pakistan
Pakistan: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 10.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Pakistan, 1979–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Pakistan is 10.0%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 63.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Pakistan peaked at 17.1% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2007.
Pakistan ranks 46th of 181 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 15.8% | — |
| 1980 | 15.4% | -2.6% |
| 1981 | 8.4% | -45.3% |
| 1982 | 8.4% | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 2.3% | -72.5% |
| 1984 | 2.2% | -7.3% |
| 1985 | 1.6% | -26.7% |
| 1986 | 2.0% | +25.5% |
| 1987 | 1.1% | -46.0% |
| 1991 | 16.8% | +1472.9% |
| 1992 | 14.2% | -15.4% |
| 1993 | 10.3% | -27.5% |
| 1994 | 10.0% | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 14.0% | +39.8% |
| 1996 | 12.5% | -10.7% |
| 1997 | 17.1% | +36.4% |
| 1998 | 15.0% | -12.1% |
| 1999 | 13.7% | -9.0% |
| 2000 | 15.8% | +15.7% |
| 2001 | 15.5% | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 16.4% | +5.7% |
| 2003 | 15.3% | -6.5% |
| 2004 | 13.0% | -15.5% |
| 2005 | 12.1% | -6.9% |
| 2006 | 0.3% | -97.3% |
| 2007 | 0.2% | -24.4% |
| 2008 | 0.5% | +117.6% |
| 2009 | 0.4% | -32.6% |
| 2010 | 0.6% | +78.0% |
| 2011 | 0.7% | +4.9% |
| 2012 | 3.8% | +463.0% |
| 2013 | 3.4% | -9.3% |
| 2014 | 2.0% | -41.2% |
| 2015 | 6.1% | +203.8% |
| 2016 | 2.7% | -55.6% |
| 2018 | 4.5% | +67.8% |
| 2019 | 6.3% | +37.5% |
| 2020 | 14.3% | +128.3% |
| 2021 | 9.2% | -35.9% |
| 2025 | 10.0% | +9.1% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 10.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.2%, 1.6× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 10.0% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 10.9%, 91% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Pakistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +1472.9% | 1.1% | 16.8% |
| 2012 | +463.0% | 0.7% | 3.8% |
| 2015 | +203.8% | 2.0% | 6.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 15.8% | 15.8% | 15.8% | 1 |
| 1980s | 5.2% | 1.1% | 15.4% | 8 |
| 1990s | 13.7% | 10.0% | 17.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 9.0% | 0.2% | 16.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.3% | 0.6% | 6.3% | 9 |
| 2020s | 11.1% | 9.2% | 14.3% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More work & labour data for Pakistan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1658 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.1724 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.4553 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.11 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 160,228 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 146,712 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 259,090 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 251,911 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 511,001 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Pakistan?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Pakistan was 10.0% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 17.1% in 1997.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2007.
- How does Pakistan rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- Pakistan ranks 46th out of 181 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 63.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.
Download this data
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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.