Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in South Asia
South Asia: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 4.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in South Asia, 1994–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in South Asia stood at 4.4%.
The figure is up 8.2% on the previous year and up 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in South Asia peaked at 7.7% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 1994.
South Asia ranks 22nd of 24 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 2.4% | — |
| 2000 | 2.7% | +10.0% |
| 2005 | 4.4% | +65.9% |
| 2010 | 3.9% | -11.1% |
| 2012 | 3.8% | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 7.7% | +102.8% |
| 2019 | 6.1% | -20.8% |
| 2020 | 6.8% | +11.5% |
| 2021 | 5.4% | -19.8% |
| 2022 | 4.7% | -14.4% |
| 2023 | 4.0% | -14.5% |
| 2024 | 4.0% | +1.6% |
| 2025 | 4.4% | +8.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 3.5% | 2.7% | 4.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 5.4% | 3.8% | 7.7% | 4 |
| 2020s | 4.9% | 4.0% | 6.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 19 Haiti 17.3% compare
- 20 Morocco 17.1% compare
- 21 Puerto Rico 15.7% compare
- 22 Iran, Islamic Republic of 14.3% compare
- 23 Sudan 14.1% compare
- 24 Belize 13.6% compare
- 25 Bosnia and Herzegovina 13.3% compare
More work & labour data for South Asia
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 33.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.4% (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, total (% of total population ages) 59.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 35.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.2% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 42.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in South Asia?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in South Asia was 4.4% 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.7% in 2018.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 1994.
- How does South Asia rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- South Asia ranks 22nd out of 24 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 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.