Labor force, female in South Asia
South Asia: Labor force, female was 206.42 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, female in South Asia, 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 recorded 206.42 million for labor force, female in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and up 40.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in South Asia peaked at 206.42 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 89.26 million, in 1990.
That places South Asia 20th 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 South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 89.26 million | — |
| 1991 | 91.72 million | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 94.30 million | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 97.26 million | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 100.31 million | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 104.66 million | +4.3% |
| 1996 | 109.36 million | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 114.24 million | +4.5% |
| 1998 | 119.71 million | +4.8% |
| 1999 | 124.69 million | +4.2% |
| 2000 | 129.97 million | +4.2% |
| 2001 | 133.60 million | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 137.18 million | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 140.74 million | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 144.39 million | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 148.08 million | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 146.24 million | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 145.03 million | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 143.74 million | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 142.50 million | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 141.32 million | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 140.36 million | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 139.26 million | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 141.29 million | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 143.77 million | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 146.65 million | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 149.46 million | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 154.22 million | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 157.42 million | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 160.74 million | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 160.95 million | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 173.15 million | +7.6% |
| 2022 | 184.86 million | +6.8% |
| 2023 | 194.86 million | +5.4% |
| 2024 | 203.44 million | +4.4% |
| 2025 | 206.42 million | +1.5% |
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
- 17 Thailand 18.74 million compare
- 18 United Kingdom 16.92 million compare
- 19 Tanzania 16.69 million compare
- 20 France 15.42 million compare
- 21 South Korea 13.25 million compare
- 22 Turkey 12.70 million compare
- 23 South Africa 12.45 million compare
More gender data for South Asia
- Labor force, female, per capita 0.122 units per person (2025)
- Labor force, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Labor force, female, annual growth rate 1.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Labor force, female, per square kilometre 58.22 units per square kilometre (2023)
- 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)
- Women of reproductive age 512.73 million (2023)
- Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) 47.2% (2016)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in South Asia?
- Labor force, female in South Asia 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?
- The highest recorded value was 206.42 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 89.26 million in 1990.
- How does South Asia rank for labor force, female?
- South Asia ranks 20th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in South Asia?
- 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 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.