Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Switzerland
Switzerland: Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate was 85.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
85.7%
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
55th
of 236 countries
All-time high
85.7%
in 2025
All-time low
44.3%
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Switzerland, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Switzerland stood at 85.7%. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Switzerland peaked at 85.7% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 44.3%, in 1950.
Switzerland ranks 55th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 44.3% | — |
| 1951 | 44.9% | +1.3% |
| 1952 | 45.5% | +1.4% |
| 1953 | 46.2% | +1.4% |
| 1954 | 46.9% | +1.5% |
| 1955 | 47.6% | +1.5% |
| 1956 | 48.3% | +1.5% |
| 1957 | 49.0% | +1.5% |
| 1958 | 49.7% | +1.4% |
| 1959 | 50.3% | +1.4% |
| 1960 | 51.0% | +1.3% |
| 1961 | 51.7% | +1.3% |
| 1962 | 52.4% | +1.3% |
| 1963 | 53.0% | +1.3% |
| 1964 | 53.7% | +1.3% |
| 1965 | 54.4% | +1.3% |
| 1966 | 55.1% | +1.2% |
| 1967 | 55.7% | +1.2% |
| 1968 | 56.3% | +1.1% |
| 1969 | 56.9% | +1.0% |
| 1970 | 57.4% | +0.9% |
| 1971 | 57.9% | +0.8% |
| 1972 | 58.3% | +0.7% |
| 1973 | 58.7% | +0.7% |
| 1974 | 59.1% | +0.6% |
| 1975 | 59.4% | +0.6% |
| 1976 | 59.7% | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 60.1% | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 60.4% | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 60.8% | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 61.3% | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 61.8% | +0.9% |
| 1982 | 62.4% | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 63.2% | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 64.0% | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 64.8% | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 65.6% | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 66.5% | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 67.3% | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 68.0% | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 68.7% | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 69.2% | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 69.8% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 70.4% | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 71.0% | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 71.5% | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 72.0% | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 72.5% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 72.9% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 73.1% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 73.3% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 73.4% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 73.4% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 73.5% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 73.5% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 73.5% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 73.5% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 73.5% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 73.5% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 73.6% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 73.6% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 73.7% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 73.8% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 74.1% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 74.7% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 75.6% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 76.7% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 77.9% | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 79.3% | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 80.8% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 82.3% | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 84.2% | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 84.9% | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 85.2% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 85.5% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 85.7% | +0.3% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 85.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 81.3%, 1.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 85.7% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 69.6%, 1.2× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 47.3% | 44.3% | 50.3% | 10 |
| 1960s | 54.0% | 51.0% | 56.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 59.2% | 57.4% | 60.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 64.5% | 61.3% | 68.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 71.1% | 68.7% | 73.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 73.5% | 73.3% | 73.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 76.0% | 73.6% | 80.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 84.6% | 82.3% | 85.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
- 52 Western Sahara 86.9% compare
- 53 French Guiana 86.6% compare
- 54 United Arab Emirates 86.0% compare
- 56 Peru 85.6% compare
- 57 Saudi Arabia 84.6% compare
- 58 New Zealand 84.0% compare
More work & labour data for Switzerland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0651 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.0485 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0817 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.4 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.6452 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 8,038 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,842 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 4,568 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 4,558 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 9,126 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Switzerland?
- Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Switzerland was 85.7% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban population vs. female labor force participation rate recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 85.7% in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population vs. female labor force participation rate recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.3% in 1950.
- How does Switzerland rank for urban population vs. female labor force participation rate?
- Switzerland ranks 55th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population vs. female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Switzerland data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.