Labor force, female in OECD members

OECD members: Labor force, female was 318.09 million in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)
318.09 million
Change on year
up 0.5%
Rank
14th
of 47 groups
All-time high
318.09 million
in 2025
All-time low
210.78 million
in 1990
Years of data
36
1990–2025

Labor force, female in OECD members, 1990–2025

0100.0M200.0M300.0M1990200720251990: 210.8M1991: 214.5M1992: 217.0M1993: 218.1M1994: 222.9M1995: 225.9M1996: 229.2M1997: 233.2M1998: 235.4M1999: 238.5M2000: 240.9M2001: 243.1M2002: 246.1M2003: 249.3M2004: 251.6M2005: 255.4M2006: 259.6M2007: 262.5M2008: 266.3M2009: 270.1M2010: 272.4M2011: 274.7M2012: 278.2M2013: 280.8M2014: 282.7M2015: 285.3M2016: 288.9M2017: 292.4M2018: 296.1M2019: 300.6M2020: 294.8M2021: 300.1M2022: 306.4M2023: 312.8M2024: 316.6M2025: 318.1M

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 OECD members stood at 318.09 million. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.

The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 11.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force, female in OECD members peaked at 318.09 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 210.78 million, in 1990.

That places OECD members 14th 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 OECD members, year by year

Annual values for Labor force, female in OECD members, 1990 to 2025.
Year Value Change
1990 210.78 million
1991 214.49 million +1.8%
1992 216.97 million +1.2%
1993 218.10 million +0.5%
1994 222.87 million +2.2%
1995 225.90 million +1.4%
1996 229.23 million +1.5%
1997 233.17 million +1.7%
1998 235.45 million +1.0%
1999 238.52 million +1.3%
2000 240.88 million +1.0%
2001 243.13 million +0.9%
2002 246.12 million +1.2%
2003 249.25 million +1.3%
2004 251.56 million +0.9%
2005 255.41 million +1.5%
2006 259.59 million +1.6%
2007 262.53 million +1.1%
2008 266.28 million +1.4%
2009 270.05 million +1.4%
2010 272.37 million +0.9%
2011 274.67 million +0.8%
2012 278.24 million +1.3%
2013 280.75 million +0.9%
2014 282.69 million +0.7%
2015 285.31 million +0.9%
2016 288.85 million +1.2%
2017 292.45 million +1.2%
2018 296.14 million +1.3%
2019 300.56 million +1.5%
2020 294.82 million -1.9%
2021 300.13 million +1.8%
2022 306.39 million +2.1%
2023 312.81 million +2.1%
2024 316.64 million +1.2%
2025 318.09 million +0.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 224.55 million 210.78 million 238.52 million 10
2000s 254.48 million 240.88 million 270.05 million 10
2010s 285.20 million 272.37 million 300.56 million 10
2020s 308.15 million 294.82 million 318.09 million 6

Countries ranked near OECD members

  1. 11 Mexico 24.84 million compare
  2. 12 Ethiopia 24.46 million compare
  3. 13 Philippines 21.73 million compare
  4. 14 Germany 20.25 million compare
  5. 15 Pakistan 19.39 million compare
  6. 16 Democratic Republic of Congo 19.17 million compare
  7. 17 Thailand 18.74 million compare

See the full ranking of 235 places →

More gender data for OECD members

All data for OECD members →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force, female in OECD members?
Labor force, female in OECD members was 318.09 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 OECD members?
The highest recorded value was 318.09 million in 2025.
What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in OECD members?
The lowest recorded value was 210.78 million in 1990.
How does OECD members rank for labor force, female?
OECD members ranks 14th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
Is labor force, female rising or falling in OECD members?
Over the last ten years it is up 11.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this OECD members 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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Labor force, female in OECD members. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://gender.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-female/oecd-members/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force, female
Source
World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
235 places, 8,446 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed

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.