Countries by Female Labour Force Participation Rate 2024

About This Dataset

Countries ranked by the percentage of working-age women who are either employed or actively seeking employment in 2024, according to ILO World Employment and Social Outlook data. Iceland leads global female labour force participation, with over 83% of working-age women active in the labour market — reflecting strong parental leave policies, affordable childcare, and a cultural expectation of dual-income households.

Analysis

Iceland's leading female labour force participation rate of 83.0% is a significant indicator of its progressive policies, including robust parental leave and accessible childcare, which facilitate women's entry into the workforce. Sweden and Switzerland, with rates of 80.5% and 79.8% respectively, also demonstrate strong support systems for working women. In contrast, Germany and New Zealand, at 74.8% and 74.5%, show a noticeable gap compared to the top performers, suggesting that while they have made strides, there is still room for improvement. The trend indicates that countries prioritizing gender equality in the workplace are likely to see higher participation rates, which can lead to broader economic benefits.

Source: Wikipedia

Key Findings

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Iceland leads in Female Labour Force Participation (%) with 83 in 2024.

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Average Female Labour Force Participation (%) in 2024: 78 · median: 79.

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Gap in 2024: Iceland is 1.1× larger than New Zealand.