Labor force, female by country
Female labor force comprises women ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however....
Countries reporting
187
Highest
348.52 million
China
Lowest
15,764
Tonga
Median
1.66 million
Years covered
36
1990–2025
Data points
8,446
What the numbers show
Labor force, female is currently reported for 187 countries. The highest value is 348.52 million in China; the lowest is 15,764 in Tonga.
The median across all reporting countries is 1.66 million, and the mean is 8.08 million.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 22,109.
Over the past decade 161 countries rose and 26 fell. The largest increase was in Saudi Arabia (up 113.6%), and the largest decrease in Afghanistan (down 63.2%).
Labor force, female: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 348.52 million | 2025 | down 0.1% | rising |
| 2 | India | 174.86 million | 2025 | up 43.4% | rising |
| 3 | United States | 79.77 million | 2025 | up 9.3% | rising |
| 4 | Indonesia | 58.27 million | 2025 | up 19.7% | rising |
| 5 | Nigeria | 56.43 million | 2025 | up 41.0% | rising |
| 6 | Brazil | 46.97 million | 2025 | up 10.2% | rising |
| 7 | Russia | 35.50 million | 2025 | down 2.8% | flat |
| 8 | Japan | 31.57 million | 2025 | up 12.0% | rising |
| 9 | Vietnam | 27.85 million | 2025 | up 3.8% | rising |
| 10 | Bangladesh | 25.43 million | 2025 | up 34.4% | rising |
| 11 | Mexico | 24.84 million | 2025 | up 24.7% | rising |
| 12 | Ethiopia | 24.46 million | 2025 | up 16.5% | rising |
| 13 | Philippines | 21.73 million | 2025 | up 26.1% | rising |
| 14 | Germany | 20.25 million | 2025 | up 2.7% | rising |
| 15 | Pakistan | 19.39 million | 2025 | up 24.1% | rising |
| 16 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 19.17 million | 2025 | up 39.4% | rising |
| 17 | Thailand | 18.74 million | 2025 | up 3.5% | rising |
| 18 | United Kingdom | 16.92 million | 2025 | up 8.5% | rising |
| 19 | Tanzania | 16.69 million | 2025 | up 40.5% | rising |
| 20 | France | 15.42 million | 2025 | up 6.5% | rising |
| 21 | South Korea | 13.25 million | 2025 | up 14.8% | rising |
| 22 | Turkey | 12.70 million | 2025 | up 35.0% | rising |
| 23 | South Africa | 12.45 million | 2025 | up 22.6% | rising |
| 24 | Kenya | 11.71 million | 2025 | up 19.0% | rising |
| 25 | Spain | 11.68 million | 2025 | up 9.9% | rising |
| 26 | Colombia | 11.27 million | 2025 | up 12.6% | rising |
| 27 | Uganda | 11.27 million | 2025 | up 53.2% | rising |
| 28 | Italy | 10.92 million | 2025 | up 2.7% | rising |
| 29 | Canada | 10.79 million | 2025 | up 16.8% | rising |
| 30 | Ukraine | 9.74 million | 2021 | down 12.4% | falling |
| 31 | Argentina | 9.65 million | 2025 | up 21.9% | rising |
| 32 | Peru | 8.70 million | 2025 | up 15.5% | rising |
| 33 | Myanmar | 8.65 million | 2025 | down 10.3% | rising |
| 34 | North Korea | 8.52 million | 2025 | up 4.2% | rising |
| 35 | Poland | 8.38 million | 2025 | up 0.8% | rising |
| 36 | Madagascar | 8.32 million | 2025 | up 35.0% | rising |
| 37 | Mozambique | 8.09 million | 2025 | up 34.6% | rising |
| 38 | Angola | 8.06 million | 2025 | up 38.0% | rising |
| 39 | Egypt | 7.45 million | 2025 | down 0.2% | rising |
| 40 | Australia | 7.21 million | 2025 | up 24.4% | rising |
| 41 | Malaysia | 6.94 million | 2025 | up 24.0% | rising |
| 42 | Ghana | 6.31 million | 2025 | up 9.2% | rising |
| 43 | Cote d'Ivoire | 5.67 million | 2025 | up 34.7% | rising |
| 44 | Niger | 5.38 million | 2025 | up 74.5% | rising |
| 45 | Uzbekistan | 5.26 million | 2025 | up 20.7% | rising |
| 46 | Cambodia | 5.04 million | 2025 | up 23.8% | rising |
| 47 | Cameroon | 5.03 million | 2025 | up 17.5% | rising |
| 48 | Iran | 4.99 million | 2025 | up 11.8% | rising |
| 49 | Netherlands | 4.88 million | 2025 | up 11.8% | rising |
| 50 | Kazakhstan | 4.83 million | 2025 | up 5.8% | rising |
| 51 | Burkina Faso | 4.61 million | 2025 | up 19.7% | rising |
| 52 | Chile | 4.43 million | 2025 | up 20.4% | rising |
| 53 | Venezuela | 4.07 million | 2025 | down 24.6% | rising |
| 54 | Malawi | 4.02 million | 2025 | up 32.8% | rising |
| 55 | Zambia | 3.71 million | 2025 | up 56.3% | rising |
| 56 | Ecuador | 3.68 million | 2025 | up 21.8% | rising |
| 57 | Mali | 3.58 million | 2025 | up 22.0% | rising |
| 58 | Romania | 3.50 million | 2025 | down 5.5% | falling |
| 59 | Saudi Arabia | 3.47 million | 2025 | up 113.6% | volatile |
| 60 | Zimbabwe | 3.40 million | 2025 | up 26.7% | rising |
| 61 | Benin | 3.28 million | 2025 | up 40.1% | rising |
| 62 | Burundi | 3.26 million | 2025 | up 35.3% | rising |
| 63 | Bolivia | 3.25 million | 2025 | up 54.1% | rising |
| 64 | Nepal | 3.14 million | 2025 | up 17.5% | rising |
| 65 | Morocco | 2.82 million | 2025 | down 6.7% | rising |
| 66 | Sri Lanka | 2.76 million | 2025 | down 5.1% | rising |
| 67 | Rwanda | 2.74 million | 2025 | up 39.4% | rising |
| 68 | Portugal | 2.73 million | 2025 | up 7.5% | rising |
| 69 | Sweden | 2.71 million | 2025 | up 9.8% | rising |
| 70 | Chad | 2.70 million | 2025 | up 40.6% | rising |
| 71 | Belgium | 2.56 million | 2025 | up 11.0% | rising |
| 72 | Azerbaijan | 2.55 million | 2025 | up 6.3% | rising |
| 73 | Czechia | 2.52 million | 2025 | up 7.7% | rising |
| 74 | Guatemala | 2.52 million | 2025 | up 26.5% | rising |
| 75 | South Sudan | 2.51 million | 2023 | up 4.8% | rising |
| 76 | Haiti | 2.45 million | 2025 | up 13.3% | rising |
| 77 | Switzerland | 2.44 million | 2025 | up 8.9% | rising |
| 78 | Belarus | 2.36 million | 2025 | down 6.9% | rising |
| 79 | Israel | 2.33 million | 2025 | up 26.1% | rising |
| 80 | Hungary | 2.32 million | 2025 | up 5.0% | rising |
| 81 | Dominican Republic | 2.31 million | 2025 | up 28.5% | rising |
| 82 | Algeria | 2.30 million | 2025 | up 9.0% | rising |
| 83 | Senegal | 2.24 million | 2025 | up 54.2% | rising |
| 84 | Austria | 2.22 million | 2025 | up 6.6% | rising |
| 85 | Sudan | 2.16 million | 2022 | down 23.7% | rising |
| 86 | Greece | 2.11 million | 2025 | down 0.9% | rising |
| 87 | Guinea | 1.96 million | 2025 | up 19.7% | rising |
| 88 | Hong Kong | 1.94 million | 2025 | up 0.8% | rising |
| 89 | Cuba | 1.90 million | 2025 | down 10.1% | rising |
| 90 | Papua New Guinea | 1.79 million | 2025 | up 35.6% | rising |
| 91 | United Arab Emirates | 1.73 million | 2025 | up 57.5% | volatile |
| 92 | Laos | 1.70 million | 2025 | up 33.6% | rising |
| 93 | Iraq | 1.66 million | 2025 | up 2.6% | rising |
| 94 | Singapore | 1.66 million | 2025 | up 17.5% | rising |
| 95 | Serbia | 1.57 million | 2025 | up 12.9% | falling |
| 96 | Denmark | 1.56 million | 2025 | up 14.8% | rising |
| 97 | Honduras | 1.52 million | 2025 | up 8.6% | rising |
| 98 | Togo | 1.52 million | 2025 | up 27.0% | rising |
| 99 | Paraguay | 1.49 million | 2025 | up 26.3% | rising |
| 100 | New Zealand | 1.46 million | 2025 | up 22.9% | rising |
| 101 | Norway | 1.46 million | 2025 | up 8.7% | rising |
| 102 | Bulgaria | 1.45 million | 2025 | down 4.8% | falling |
| 103 | Sierra Leone | 1.43 million | 2025 | up 25.2% | rising |
| 104 | Finland | 1.39 million | 2025 | up 6.9% | rising |
| 105 | Ireland | 1.37 million | 2025 | up 32.1% | rising |
| 106 | Nicaragua | 1.32 million | 2025 | up 27.2% | rising |
| 107 | Slovakia | 1.30 million | 2025 | up 5.5% | rising |
| 108 | Congo | 1.28 million | 2025 | up 29.8% | rising |
| 109 | Tunisia | 1.28 million | 2025 | up 12.4% | rising |
| 110 | Liberia | 1.27 million | 2025 | up 29.6% | rising |
| 111 | El Salvador | 1.27 million | 2025 | up 18.1% | rising |
| 112 | Syria | 1.18 million | 2025 | up 58.6% | rising |
| 113 | Kyrgyzstan | 1.14 million | 2025 | up 14.0% | rising |
| 114 | Somalia | 1.10 million | 2025 | up 43.5% | rising |
| 115 | Turkmenistan | 1.04 million | 2025 | up 15.9% | rising |
| 116 | Central African Republic | 1.00 million | 2025 | up 24.2% | rising |
| 117 | Costa Rica | 987,345 | 2025 | up 3.7% | rising |
| 118 | Georgia | 969,757 | 2025 | up 0.9% | falling |
| 119 | Panama | 955,583 | 2025 | up 29.2% | rising |
| 120 | Libya | 888,389 | 2025 | up 17.9% | rising |
| 121 | Eritrea | 840,987 | 2025 | up 23.4% | rising |
| 122 | Uruguay | 828,804 | 2025 | up 6.0% | rising |
| 123 | Croatia | 828,219 | 2025 | down 4.4% | falling |
| 124 | Tajikistan | 782,586 | 2025 | up 14.0% | falling |
| 125 | Lithuania | 761,543 | 2025 | up 2.7% | falling |
| 126 | Moldova | 760,129 | 2025 | down 13.2% | rising |
| 127 | Jamaica | 743,668 | 2025 | up 16.5% | rising |
| 128 | Armenia | 700,658 | 2025 | down 2.6% | flat |
| 129 | Kuwait | 691,999 | 2025 | up 17.4% | rising |
| 130 | Afghanistan | 639,744 | 2025 | down 63.2% | rising |
| 131 | Mongolia | 639,632 | 2025 | up 10.1% | rising |
| 132 | Jordan | 622,290 | 2025 | up 55.3% | volatile |
| 133 | Albania | 586,512 | 2025 | up 10.1% | falling |
| 134 | Yemen | 571,250 | 2025 | up 22.1% | falling |
| 135 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 568,980 | 2025 | down 8.6% | falling |
| 136 | Botswana | 560,222 | 2025 | up 35.6% | rising |
| 137 | Puerto Rico | 557,312 | 2025 | up 11.5% | rising |
| 138 | Namibia | 556,748 | 2025 | up 25.5% | rising |
| 139 | Lebanon | 492,645 | 2023 | down 7.7% | rising |
| 140 | Slovenia | 475,524 | 2025 | up 2.0% | rising |
| 141 | Latvia | 472,275 | 2025 | down 5.4% | falling |
| 142 | Guinea-Bissau | 429,041 | 2025 | up 43.1% | rising |
| 143 | Oman | 422,534 | 2025 | up 40.2% | rising |
| 144 | Mauritania | 417,312 | 2025 | up 35.0% | rising |
| 145 | Qatar | 396,008 | 2025 | up 68.4% | volatile |
| 146 | Gambia | 391,853 | 2025 | up 37.9% | rising |
| 147 | Lesotho | 389,878 | 2025 | up 2.4% | falling |
| 148 | Estonia | 374,980 | 2025 | up 12.7% | flat |
| 149 | Cyprus | 350,968 | 2025 | up 16.6% | rising |
| 150 | Gabon | 337,527 | 2025 | up 29.6% | rising |
| 151 | North Macedonia | 336,898 | 2025 | down 1.3% | flat |
| 152 | Palestine | 298,514 | 2022 | up 55.4% | rising |
| 153 | Equatorial Guinea | 295,223 | 2025 | up 33.9% | rising |
| 154 | East Timor | 291,594 | 2025 | up 30.7% | rising |
| 155 | Trinidad and Tobago | 274,487 | 2025 | down 4.6% | rising |
| 156 | Mauritius | 252,653 | 2025 | up 6.6% | rising |
| 157 | Solomon Islands | 215,265 | 2025 | up 38.2% | rising |
| 158 | Eswatini | 210,197 | 2025 | up 19.2% | rising |
| 159 | Macao | 204,736 | 2025 | up 3.6% | rising |
| 160 | Bahrain | 195,675 | 2025 | up 17.0% | volatile |
| 161 | Bhutan | 166,082 | 2025 | up 22.8% | rising |
| 162 | Luxembourg | 165,632 | 2025 | up 28.2% | rising |
| 163 | Guyana | 146,798 | 2025 | up 27.0% | rising |
| 164 | Montenegro | 138,132 | 2025 | up 12.1% | rising |
| 165 | Malta | 135,412 | 2025 | up 65.2% | rising |
| 166 | Fiji | 133,579 | 2025 | up 2.8% | rising |
| 167 | Comoros | 132,667 | 2025 | up 72.7% | rising |
| 168 | Bahamas | 124,333 | 2025 | up 11.4% | rising |
| 169 | Iceland | 110,599 | 2025 | up 15.2% | rising |
| 170 | Suriname | 108,113 | 2025 | up 17.9% | rising |
| 171 | Cape Verde | 98,789 | 2025 | up 5.0% | rising |
| 172 | Brunei | 93,984 | 2025 | up 8.6% | rising |
| 173 | Djibouti | 83,029 | 2025 | up 36.6% | rising |
| 174 | Barbados | 75,303 | 2025 | up 2.4% | rising |
| 175 | Belize | 72,204 | 2025 | up 23.3% | rising |
| 176 | Maldives | 63,262 | 2025 | up 26.8% | rising |
| 177 | New Caledonia | 60,808 | 2025 | down 2.8% | rising |
| 178 | Vanuatu | 55,643 | 2025 | up 23.3% | rising |
| 179 | French Polynesia | 53,386 | 2025 | up 3.6% | rising |
| 180 | Saint Lucia | 47,094 | 2025 | up 6.1% | rising |
| 181 | Channel Islands | 36,329 | 2025 | up 1.0% | rising |
| 182 | Guam | 35,221 | 2025 | up 4.4% | rising |
| 183 | United States Virgin Islands | 24,465 | 2025 | down 3.9% | flat |
| 184 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 22,997 | 2025 | up 6.3% | rising |
| 185 | Samoa | 21,029 | 2025 | down 17.8% | rising |
| 186 | Sao Tome and Principe | 17,343 | 2025 | up 30.1% | rising |
| 187 | Tonga | 15,764 | 2025 | up 5.5% | rising |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- World 1.50 billion
- Chagai 36,329
- IDA & IBRD total 1.22 billion
- Low & middle income 1.17 billion
- Middle income 1.06 billion
- IBRD only 909.15 million
- Upper middle income 654.85 million
- East Asia & Pacific 572.12 million
- Late-demographic dividend 553.30 million
- East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) 509.13 million
- East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) 500.61 million
- Early-demographic dividend 484.13 million
- Lower middle income 401.20 million
- High income 330.46 million
- OECD members 318.09 million
- IDA total 308.79 million
- Post-demographic dividend 260.64 million
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 247.09 million
- Sub-Saharan Africa 247.09 million
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 247.09 million
- South Asia 206.42 million
- South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 206.42 million
- Pre-demographic dividend 197.89 million
- IDA only 197.83 million
- Europe & Central Asia 195.42 million
- Least developed countries 190.69 million
- Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) 161.66 million
- Africa Eastern and Southern 141.40 million
- Latin America & Caribbean 136.62 million
- Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 134.02 million
- Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) 128.22 million
- Low income 114.97 million
- IDA blend 110.95 million
- Africa Western and Central 105.69 million
- European Union 102.81 million
- North America 90.56 million
- Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) 85.93 million
- Euro area 81.83 million
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 53.25 million
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) 43.88 million
About this data
Female labor force comprises women ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.