Countries With the Lowest Female Labor Participation
Every country with a figure for female labor participation, ranked from lowest to highest. The top three are Yemen, Rep. (4.66%), Afghanistan (5.09%) and Iraq (10.9%). The middle country of the 187 has 53%.
What this measures
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population 15+), in % of women 15+. Source: International Labour Organization. For this measure, no agreed better direction.
The full ranking
Each country’s latest figure, from 2021–2025. The year beside each value says when it was measured.
| Rank | Country | Female labor participation | Year | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yemen, Rep. | 4.66% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 2 | Afghanistan | 5.09% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 3 | Iraq | 10.9% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 4 | Syrian Arab Republic | 12.7% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 5 | Iran, Islamic Rep. | 14% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 6 | Algeria | 14.1% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 7 | Sudan | 14.5% | 2022 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 8 | Jordan | 16% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 9 | Egypt, Arab Rep. | 18.5% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 10 | West Bank and Gaza | 18.9% | 2022 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 11 | Djibouti | 19.4% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 12 | Morocco | 19.7% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 13 | Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 20.7% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 14 | Tajikistan | 21.9% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 15 | Lebanon | 22.2% | 2023 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 16 | Sao Tome and Principe | 22.7% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 17 | Pakistan | 24% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 18 | Mauritania | 26.2% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 19 | Tunisia | 26.5% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 20 | Nepal | 27.5% | 2025 | South Asia |
| 21 | Oman | 30% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 22 | Samoa | 30.7% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 23 | Sri Lanka | 31% | 2025 | South Asia |
| 24 | India | 32.4% | 2025 | South Asia |
| 25 | Libya | 33% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 26 | Saudi Arabia | 33.6% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 27 | Puerto Rico (US) | 36.9% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 28 | Venezuela, RB | 37.1% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 29 | Turkiye | 37.1% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 30 | Senegal | 38.2% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 31 | Turkmenistan | 38.2% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 32 | Guatemala | 38.3% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 33 | Fiji | 38.5% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 34 | Bangladesh | 38.6% | 2025 | South Asia |
| 35 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 39.2% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 36 | Honduras | 39.6% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 37 | Cuba | 40% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 38 | Maldives | 40.7% | 2025 | South Asia |
| 39 | Italy | 40.8% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 40 | Myanmar | 40.9% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 41 | Uzbekistan | 41.2% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 42 | Gabon | 41.6% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 43 | Romania | 41.8% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 44 | Bahrain | 42.3% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 45 | Tonga | 42.3% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 46 | Guinea | 42.6% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 47 | North Macedonia | 42.7% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 48 | Kyrgyz Republic | 44.1% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 49 | Greece | 44.7% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 50 | Suriname | 44.9% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 51 | Gambia, The | 45.5% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 52 | Costa Rica | 46% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 53 | Belize | 46.5% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 54 | French Polynesia | 46.6% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 55 | Kuwait | 47.2% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 56 | Chad | 47.3% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 57 | Guyana | 47.4% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 58 | Croatia | 47.4% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 59 | Mexico | 47.5% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 60 | Mauritius | 47.5% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 61 | Comoros | 47.6% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 62 | Ukraine | 47.7% | 2021 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 63 | Trinidad and Tobago | 47.8% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 64 | Lesotho | 48.1% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 65 | Eswatini | 48.5% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 66 | El Salvador | 49.1% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 67 | Channel Islands | 49.2% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 68 | Belgium | 49.8% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 69 | South Africa | 49.9% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 70 | Bulgaria | 50.4% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 71 | Cabo Verde | 50.5% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 72 | Philippines | 50.5% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 73 | Papua New Guinea | 50.8% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 74 | Armenia | 51.1% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 75 | New Caledonia | 51.1% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 76 | Montenegro | 51.2% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 77 | Nicaragua | 51.3% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 78 | Mongolia | 51.5% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 79 | France | 51.5% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 80 | Sierra Leone | 51.6% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 81 | Poland | 51.6% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 82 | Colombia | 51.6% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 83 | Malaysia | 51.6% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 84 | Hong Kong SAR, China | 51.8% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 85 | Slovenia | 52.3% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 86 | Ecuador | 52.4% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 87 | Argentina | 52.5% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 88 | Equatorial Guinea | 52.6% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 89 | Serbia | 52.6% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 90 | Virgin Islands (U.S.) | 52.8% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 91 | Spain | 52.8% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 92 | Mali | 52.8% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 93 | Chile | 52.9% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 94 | United Arab Emirates | 53% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 95 | Vanuatu | 53.3% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 96 | Brazil | 53.4% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 97 | Czechia | 53.5% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 98 | Dominican Republic | 53.7% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 99 | Indonesia | 53.7% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 100 | Hungary | 54.3% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 101 | Brunei Darussalam | 54.4% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 102 | Russian Federation | 54.5% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 103 | Portugal | 54.6% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 104 | Namibia | 54.9% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 105 | Panama | 54.9% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 106 | Austria | 55.1% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 107 | Slovak Republic | 55.1% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 108 | Latvia | 55.2% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 109 | Ghana | 55.3% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 110 | Germany | 55.3% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 111 | Malta | 55.8% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 112 | Japan | 55.9% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 113 | United States | 56.3% | 2025 | North America |
| 114 | Zambia | 56.4% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 115 | Finland | 56.5% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 116 | Guam | 56.5% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 117 | Cameroon | 56.6% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 118 | Togo | 56.6% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 119 | Georgia | 56.7% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 120 | Bhutan | 56.7% | 2025 | South Asia |
| 121 | Belarus | 56.8% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 122 | Korea, Rep. | 56.8% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 123 | Uruguay | 57.3% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 124 | Rwanda | 57.3% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 125 | United Kingdom | 57.3% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 126 | Luxembourg | 57.5% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 127 | Lithuania | 57.7% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 128 | Malawi | 58.2% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 129 | Haiti | 58.3% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 130 | Ethiopia | 58.5% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 131 | Albania | 58.6% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 132 | Thailand | 59% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 133 | Paraguay | 59% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 134 | China | 59.1% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 135 | St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 59.2% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 136 | Cote d'Ivoire | 59.5% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 137 | Ireland | 59.8% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 138 | Canada | 60.2% | 2025 | North America |
| 139 | Guinea-Bissau | 60.3% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 140 | Azerbaijan | 60.8% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 141 | Denmark | 60.8% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 142 | Estonia | 61% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 143 | Barbados | 61% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 144 | Cyprus | 61.2% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 145 | Sweden | 61.5% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 146 | Lao PDR | 61.6% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 147 | Timor-Leste | 61.7% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 148 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | 61.8% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 149 | Qatar | 61.9% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 150 | St. Lucia | 62% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 151 | Norway | 62.1% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 152 | Zimbabwe | 62.2% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 153 | Switzerland | 62.2% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 154 | Israel | 62.3% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 155 | Australia | 62.5% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 156 | Kazakhstan | 62.6% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 157 | Netherlands | 62.7% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 158 | Jamaica | 63% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 159 | Kenya | 63% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 160 | Macao SAR, China | 63.1% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 161 | Singapore | 63.6% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 162 | Botswana | 63.7% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 163 | Burkina Faso | 64.1% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 164 | Peru | 65% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 165 | Central African Republic | 65.5% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 166 | Congo, Rep. | 65.6% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 167 | New Zealand | 66.1% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 168 | Viet Nam | 68.6% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 169 | Iceland | 70% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 170 | South Sudan | 70.4% | 2023 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 171 | Bahamas, The | 70.7% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 172 | Liberia | 72% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 173 | Angola | 72.2% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 174 | Moldova | 72.3% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 175 | Niger | 72.8% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 176 | Eritrea | 72.8% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 177 | Bolivia | 72.9% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 178 | Benin | 75.2% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 179 | Uganda | 75.6% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 180 | Mozambique | 77.1% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 181 | Cambodia | 77.4% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 182 | Korea, Dem. People's Rep. | 77.7% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 183 | Burundi | 79.5% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 184 | Tanzania | 80.3% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 185 | Nigeria | 80.7% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 186 | Solomon Islands | 82.3% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 187 | Madagascar | 82.9% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
More on female labor participation
- Countries With the Highest Female Labor Participation
- Female labor participation by country: trend over time and what it goes with
Related rankings
- Countries With the Lowest Active Labour Market Spending
- Countries With the Lowest Unemployment Benefit Spending
- Countries With the Lowest Retirement Age, Men
- Countries With the Lowest Retirement Age, Women
- Countries With the Lowest Hours Worked
- Countries With the Lowest Informal Employment
- Countries With the Lowest Unemployment
- Countries With the Lowest Male Labor Participation
A ranking describes countries, not the people in them, and a high or low place does not by itself say why. All country rankings.