Female unemployment rate in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Female unemployment rate was 3.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female unemployment rate in Bangladesh, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female unemployment rate in Bangladesh is 3.7%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.6% on the previous year and down 49.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female unemployment rate in Bangladesh peaked at 7.4% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 1992.
That places Bangladesh 134th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Female unemployment rate in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2.1% | — |
| 1992 | 2.1% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 2.1% | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 2.1% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 2.1% | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 2.1% | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 2.4% | +14.1% |
| 1998 | 2.7% | +12.6% |
| 1999 | 3.0% | +11.2% |
| 2000 | 3.3% | +9.8% |
| 2001 | 3.8% | +14.7% |
| 2002 | 4.3% | +13.2% |
| 2003 | 4.8% | +11.6% |
| 2004 | 6.0% | +23.4% |
| 2005 | 7.0% | +17.4% |
| 2006 | 6.4% | -8.6% |
| 2007 | 6.6% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 6.9% | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 7.2% | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 4.3% | -39.6% |
| 2011 | 5.4% | +23.6% |
| 2012 | 6.4% | +18.6% |
| 2013 | 7.4% | +16.3% |
| 2014 | 7.4% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 7.3% | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 7.2% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 6.6% | -8.4% |
| 2018 | 6.3% | -5.5% |
| 2019 | 5.9% | -5.6% |
| 2020 | 6.4% | +8.7% |
| 2021 | 6.0% | -7.3% |
| 2022 | 4.9% | -17.9% |
| 2023 | 3.2% | -33.8% |
| 2024 | 3.4% | +6.4% |
| 2025 | 3.7% | +6.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.3% | 2.1% | 3.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.6% | 3.3% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.4% | 4.3% | 7.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.6% | 3.2% | 6.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
- 131 Nigeria 3.9% compare
- 132 Trinidad and Tobago 3.9% compare
- 133 Malaysia 3.9% compare
- 135 North Korea 3.7% compare
- 136 Bahrain 3.6% compare
- 137 El Salvador 3.6% compare
More work & labour data for Bangladesh
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4985 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4763 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.5215 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.28 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 117,837 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 84,090 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 104,333 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 104,263 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 208,597 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female unemployment rate in Bangladesh?
- Female unemployment rate in Bangladesh was 3.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female unemployment rate recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 7.4% in 2013.
- What is the lowest female unemployment rate recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 1992.
- How does Bangladesh rank for female unemployment rate?
- Bangladesh ranks 134th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female unemployment rate rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bangladesh data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.