Labor force, female in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Labor force, female was 190.69 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, female in Least developed countries, 1990–2025
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, female in Least developed countries stood at 190.69 million. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and up 25.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in Least developed countries peaked at 190.69 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 77.24 million, in 1990.
That places Least developed countries 25th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, female in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 77.24 million | — |
| 1991 | 79.52 million | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 81.92 million | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 84.39 million | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 87.18 million | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 90.11 million | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 92.77 million | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 95.37 million | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 98.17 million | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 101.05 million | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 103.77 million | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 106.56 million | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 109.45 million | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 112.36 million | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 115.34 million | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 118.40 million | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 121.28 million | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 124.86 million | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 128.46 million | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 132.72 million | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 137.12 million | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 140.87 million | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 142.45 million | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 146.91 million | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 149.30 million | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 152.33 million | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 155.60 million | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 160.25 million | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 164.87 million | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 168.90 million | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 172.17 million | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 177.06 million | +2.8% |
| 2022 | 182.60 million | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 184.80 million | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 185.54 million | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 190.69 million | +2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 88.77 million | 77.24 million | 101.05 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 117.32 million | 103.77 million | 132.72 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 151.86 million | 137.12 million | 168.90 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 182.14 million | 172.17 million | 190.69 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
More gender data for Least developed countries
- Labor force, female, per capita 0.157 units per person (2025)
- Labor force, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Labor force, female, annual growth rate 2.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- Labor force, female, per square kilometre 9.08 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-49, female 0.5909 per 1,000 uninfected female population ages 15-49 (2024)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-49, male 0.3771 per 1,000 uninfected male population ages 15-49 (2024)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-24, female 0.7852 per 1,000 uninfected female population ages 15-24 (2024)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-24, male 0.3129 per 1,000 uninfected male population ages 15-24 (2024)
- Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (% ages 15-24) 111.6% (2025)
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, female 9.19 years (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in Least developed countries?
- Labor force, female in Least developed countries was 190.69 million in 2025, according to World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division.
- What is the highest labor force, female recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 190.69 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 77.24 million in 1990.
- How does Least developed countries rank for labor force, female?
- Least developed countries ranks 25th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Least developed countries data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division, published as part of Labor force, female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.