Labor force, female in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Labor force, female was 16.92 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, female in United Kingdom, 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
The most recent figure for labor force, female in United Kingdom is 16.92 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 8.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in United Kingdom peaked at 16.92 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 12.60 million, in 1992.
That places United Kingdom 18th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, female in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 12.62 million | — |
| 1991 | 12.61 million | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 12.60 million | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 12.61 million | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 12.64 million | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 12.67 million | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 12.81 million | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 12.95 million | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 13.00 million | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 13.19 million | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 13.36 million | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 13.41 million | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 13.63 million | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 13.69 million | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 13.88 million | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 14.08 million | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 14.33 million | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 14.39 million | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 14.58 million | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 14.72 million | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 14.81 million | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 14.95 million | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 15.11 million | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 15.28 million | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 15.45 million | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 15.59 million | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 15.78 million | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 15.90 million | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 16.04 million | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 16.26 million | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 16.36 million | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 16.36 million | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 16.47 million | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 16.63 million | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 16.88 million | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 16.92 million | +0.2% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 16.92 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.45 million, 11.7× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 16.92 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.57 million, 10.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.77 million | 12.60 million | 13.19 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.01 million | 13.36 million | 14.72 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.52 million | 14.81 million | 16.26 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.60 million | 16.36 million | 16.92 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More gender data for United Kingdom
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 11,226 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.9161 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 60,060 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 60,060 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.7034 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 335,907 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 353,938 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 340,922 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 359,075 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 343,706 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in United Kingdom?
- Labor force, female in United Kingdom was 16.92 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 16.92 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.60 million in 1992.
- How does United Kingdom rank for labor force, female?
- United Kingdom ranks 18th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.