Graph and download economic data for Labor Force Participation Rate - Women (LNS11300002) from Jan 1948 to May 2025 about females, participation, 16 years +, labor force, labor, household survey, rate, and USA.

This graph shows the unadjusted female labor force participation rate in the United States from 1990 to 2023. In 2023, about 57.3 percent of the female labor force participated in the job market.

The average for 2023 based on 178 countries was 51.07 percent. The highest value was in the Solomon Islands: 82.73 percent and the lowest value was in Afghanistan: 4.83 percent. The indicator is available from 1991 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Labor Force Participation Rate Female: From 15 to 74 Years for United States (LRAC74FEUSM156S) from Jan 1981 to May 2025 about 15 to 74 years, females, participation, labor force, labor, rate, and USA.

The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region shows wide variation in estimated female labor force participation rates (LFPR) among women aged between 15 and 64 years for 2024. Countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Singapore had some of the highest female LFPR in the region, while South Asian countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, and India had some of the lowest shares of women in the labor force. This stark contrast highlights the diverse economic and social landscapes across the region, reflecting varying levels of gender equality and women's empowerment. More opportunities for women? With growing emphasis on gender equality, women across the Asia-Pacific region have gained greater access to education and professional opportunities. Notably, in 2022, many countries across the region had a higher female to male ratio in tertiary education. However, gender inequality in access to opportunities persists, as the proportion of young women not in education, employment, or training (NEET) is significantly higher than the overall youth NEET rate across APAC countries. This disparity is especially pronounced in South Asia, where deep-rooted cultural, social, and economic barriers continue to limit women’s full participation in the workforce. Women in positions of power Despite efforts to advance gender equality, women are still underrepresented in decision-making positions in many governments across the Asia-Pacific region. As such, there was a much lower female representation in ministerial level positions in most APAC countries, compared to that of men. However, New Zealand and Australia stand out for exhibiting a more balanced gender representation in political leadership.

The female labor force participation rate in India increased by 4.7 percentage points (+16.8 percent) in 2023 in comparison to the previous year. With 32.68 percent, the rate thereby reached its highest value in the observed period. Female labor force participation is the share of women over 15 years who are economically active. For example, all women providing labor in a specific period for the production of goods and services.

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Brazil was reported at 53.1 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Brazil - Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on April of 2025.

United States Labour Force Participation Rate: Female: Age 30 to 34 data was reported at 74.700 % in Jun 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 74.700 % for May 2018. United States Labour Force Participation Rate: Female: Age 30 to 34 data is updated monthly, averaging 73.400 % from Jun 1976 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 505 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 77.100 % in Nov 1999 and a record low of 52.800 % in Jun 1976. United States Labour Force Participation Rate: Female: Age 30 to 34 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.G008: Current Population Survey: Labour Force.

Graph and download economic data for Labor Force Participation Rate - 20 Yrs. & over, White Women (LNU01300029) from Jan 1954 to May 2025 about 20 years +, females, participation, civilian, white, labor force, labor, household survey, rate, and USA.

Abstract

This data is from a quantitative survey administered in 2023 to 2,000 married Nepali women and men from 4 provinces in the country about their own beliefs regarding norms-related behaviors, their expectations of how common it is for others in their social group to engage in those behaviors, and the expected social consequences surrounding those behaviors. It is the primary dataset used to author the working paper titled "Women’s Labor Force Participation in Nepal: An Exploration of The Role of Social Norms" - which presents rigorous evidence on whether and the extent to which social norms matter for women's labor force participation in Nepal.

Geographic coverage

The survey data includes a representative sample of households from 4 out of 7 provinces in Nepal: 1. Bagmati Province 2. Sudurpashchim Province 3. Madhesh Province 4. Gandaki Province

Analysis unit

Individual

Universe

The sampling frame is a list of all wards within each selected province.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Ward (cluster) selection: The sampling frame consisted of the list of all wards within each selected province. Each province comprises districts and within each district are municipalities (urban and rural municipalities) which are further broken down into wards – the smallest administrative units. The list of wards and their population figures were taken from the latest available 2021 Census. First, the universe of all districts was stratified by urban and rural to ensure greater statistical power for detecting differences between the 2 localities. The stratification by urban-rural proportionate to the population proportion of each group within a province resulted in a self-weighted sample, allowing for analysis of data at the province level and further at locality level within each province. To select the wards, a random start point was generated to negate any bias in the list and to provide an independent chance of selection from the list. The sampling method used here, probability proportionate to size (PPS), gives an independent chance of selection to each ward as per its population size, i.e., a higher chance of selection to wards with a higher population size.38 As a first step of random selection of wards, the cumulative frequency (CF) of the population of households in a ward was calculated. Since the unit of analysis for our study purpose was households having certain criteria and we expected the main outcome variables (social norms) to vary at household levels (as opposed to at an individual level), the household population figures served as the basis for sampling purpose (as opposed to the population size of individuals for a ward). Applying PPS, in the first step, the required number of wards were selected for Categories 1 and 2 households (households with working and non-working females respectively). Following this, the clusters allocated for Category 3 (households with migrant population) households were taken as a subset of the wards selected for Categories 1 and 2.

Selection of the random starting point within each ward during in-field random sampling of households: The selection of the random starting point within a PSU was done by the survey supervisors. For every ward, a predefined landmark for the starting point was chosen. The predefined landmark consisted of i) school, ii) health post, iii) central marketplace, or iv) ward office. The selection of a predefined landmark was the basis of the starting point which was made at the central office. The chosen landmark for every cluster was rotated to account for randomization and to avoid interviewer bias. Once the landmark was chosen, each enumerator used the spin-the-bottle method to randomize the direction in which the survey took place. After starting with a household, enumerators used a skip interval to survey every third household in rural and every fifth household in urban areas. Once the household was chosen, the interviewer used the screener to ascertain the eligibility as per the category quota set aside for them.

Respondent selection: The respondents were selected based on a screener instrument that surveyed the following factors: 1. Gender: Since the views about social norms and labor market outcomes vary by gender, both males and females within a household were interviewed. However, for households with migrant men, only the women were interviewed. 2. Age group: For all women, the screener was applied so as to ensure that only women within the economically active age range, i.e., between the ages of 18-59 years were interviewed. For spouses of female respondents, they had to be at least 18 years of age with no maximum age limit set. 3. Ethnicity: Nepal has more than a hundred ethnic groups residing across the country, and thus the major 8-10 groups are captured in the sample. The other objective of applying a screener for monitoring ethnic composition was to ensure that marginalized ethnic groups such as Dalits were sufficiently represented in the survey. 4. Marital Status: Only married men and women were interviewed since marriage and the responsibilities that come with are sown to impose greater social barriers and restrictions on mobility and work of females. 5. Location: The survey was carried out in both rural and urban locations in a total of 4 provinces. 6. General demographic factors include: • Perceived economic situation: Low to middle-income • It was ensured that both the respondents (male and female for Categories 1 and 2) and female respondent for Category 3 belonged to the second generation of the selected household (for example, not the in-laws residing in a household but their son and his wife.

Mode of data collection

Computer Assisted Personal Interview [capi]

In 2024, around 71.5 percent of the male population and 55.6 percent of the female population aged 15 years and above in Japan were in the workforce nationally. The labor force participation rate among women reached the highest share since 1973. Female employment rate Japan’s employment rate, the share of people who are employed among the total population aged 15 years and above, rose to 61.7 percent in the same year. It was mainly a higher share of women in employment that contributed to the overall increase in the employment rate in 2024. Despite the female employment rate reaching an all-time high, a significantly larger share of women, over half of female employees, were in non-regular employment, such as part-time and temporary work. Distinctive work patterns of women shaped by Japan’s labor market and corporate culture are one of the reasons for its gender gap when it comes to equal economic participation. Women’s work patterns One of these work patterns is the M-shaped curve of female labor participation. The curve reflects the trend that female labor force participation peaks in the age group of 25 to 29-year-olds and then falls, as women drop out of the workforce upon life events such as marriage and childbirth, only to reenter the workforce at a later stage. This curve has gradually flattened in recent years, as fewer women left the workforce in their thirties. However, the so-called L-shaped curve of women in regular employment suggests that instead, fewer women stay in regular employment. The percentage of women working in regular full-time jobs peaks in the age bracket of 25 to 29-year-olds and then declines steadily. This makes women less likely to enter leadership positions.

Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (national estimate) in United States was reported at 84.17 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

This participation rate measures the percentage of civilian, noninstitutionalized women aged 16 and older that are employed or unemployed but looking for work. The data for this report is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The values presented in this report are annual figures, derived from equally weighted monthly averages.

Egypt EG: Labour Force Participation Rate: National Estimate: Female: % of Female Population Aged 15+ data was reported at 22.979 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 22.666 % for 2015. Egypt EG: Labour Force Participation Rate: National Estimate: Female: % of Female Population Aged 15+ data is updated yearly, averaging 20.160 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 41 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 29.970 % in 1989 and a record low of 4.360 % in 1973. Egypt EG: Labour Force Participation Rate: National Estimate: Female: % of Female Population Aged 15+ data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Egypt – Table EG.World Bank: Labour Force. Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; The series for ILO estimates is also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

Graph and download economic data for Labor Force Participation Rate - 20 Yrs. & over, Women (LNS11300026) from Jan 1948 to May 2025 about 20 years +, females, participation, labor force, labor, household survey, rate, and USA.

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Denmark was reported at 59.7 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Denmark - Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Iran Labour Force Participation Rate: Age 10 and Over: Female data was reported at 15.000 % in Mar 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 15.900 % for Dec 2017. Iran Labour Force Participation Rate: Age 10 and Over: Female data is updated quarterly, averaging 14.250 % from Jun 2005 (Median) to Mar 2018, with 52 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 18.700 % in Sep 2005 and a record low of 10.300 % in Mar 2014. Iran Labour Force Participation Rate: Age 10 and Over: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistical Centre of Iran. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iran – Table IR.G002: Labour Force Participation Rate.

This dataset presents the female labor force participation rate in the State of Qatar, disaggregated by age group. The data reflects the percentage of women aged 15 years and above who are economically active, including those employed or seeking employment. The dataset allows for analysis of labor market engagement among women across different stages of life and can support policy development in employment, gender equality, and economic planning.

Saudi Arabia Labour Force Participation Rate: Saudi: Female data was reported at 35.538 % in Dec 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 35.943 % for Sep 2023. Saudi Arabia Labour Force Participation Rate: Saudi: Female data is updated quarterly, averaging 25.977 % from Jun 2016 (Median) to Dec 2023, with 31 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 37.045 % in Sep 2022 and a record low of 17.437 % in Mar 2017. Saudi Arabia Labour Force Participation Rate: Saudi: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by General Authority for Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Saudi Arabia – Table SA.G011: Labour Force: Participation Rate (Discontinued).

Niger: Female labor force participation rate: The latest value from 2023 is 62.26 percent, an increase from 62.12 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 51.07 percent, based on data from 178 countries. Historically, the average for Niger from 1991 to 2023 is 66.51 percent. The minimum value, 61.51 percent, was reached in 2021 while the maximum of 68.93 percent was recorded in 1991.