Female Labor Force Participation Rate in Various Regions

The average percentage of female workers in the regional countries exceeds 50%. Globally, however, this participation rate has been steadily declining since 2005, from 51 percent to 48 percent.

This data was compiled from an International Labour Organization (ILO) release in November 2017. The presented percentages are derived from the total female workforce divided by the total female population in each region, for those aged over 15 years. Therefore, for a region with a 50 percent participation rate, it can be said that 50 percent of women in that region are employed.

According to World Bank data, two regional groups have percentages below 30 percent: South Asian countries and countries in the Middle East and North Africa. This means that, relative to the total female population, a relatively small number of women are employed in these two regions.

Another interesting point is that the region with the highest percentage of female workers is Sub-Saharan Africa, reaching 63 percent. According to ILO records, with its high population growth, Africa has significant potential in terms of employment. Many Sub-Saharan African women are recorded as working in the informal economy.

*This article was produced in partnership with Investing in Women, an initiative of the Australian Government that promotes women’s economic empowerment in Southeast Asia.*