Labor force, female in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
South Asia (IDA & IBRD): Labor force, female was 206.42 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, female in South Asia (IDA & IBRD), 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
South Asia (IDA & IBRD) recorded 206.42 million for labor force, female in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 40.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) peaked at 206.42 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 89.26 million, in 1990.
That places South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 19th out of 46 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 104.55 million | 89.26 million | 124.69 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 141.15 million | 129.97 million | 148.08 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 147.45 million | 139.26 million | 160.74 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 187.28 million | 160.95 million | 206.42 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
- 16 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 19.17 million compare
- 17 Thailand 18.74 million compare
- 18 United Kingdom 16.92 million compare
- 19 Tanzania, United Republic of 16.69 million compare
- 20 France 15.42 million compare
- 21 Korea, Republic of 13.25 million compare
- 22 Türkiye, Republic of 12.70 million compare
More gender data for South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
- Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (% ages 15-24) 105.4% (2025)
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, female 11.07 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, male 11.09 years (2019)
- Proportion of women in ministerial level positions 11.4% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (%) 111.1% (2025)
- Literacy rate, adult female 71.6% (2024)
- Female migrants 53.0% (2020)
- Rural population, female 33.2% (2015)
- Rural population, male 34.4% (2015)
- Urban population, female 15.4% (2015)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- Labor force, female in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) was 206.42 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 South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- The highest recorded value was 206.42 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- The lowest recorded value was 89.26 million in 1990.
- How does South Asia (IDA & IBRD) rank for labor force, female?
- South Asia (IDA & IBRD) ranks 19th out of 46 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 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.