Countries with the Lowest Female Labor Force Participation (2025)
Source: World Bank·25 countries·Updated 2025
In some countries, fewer than 20% of women participate in the formal labor force. {#1} has the lowest rate at {#1_value}.
Yemen, Rep. leads with female labor force participation (%) of 4.7%.
Afghanistan ranks #2 at 5.1%.
Iraq ranks #3 at 10.9%.
Syrian Arab Republic ranks #4 at 12.7%.
Iran, Islamic Rep. ranks #5 at 14.0%.
Bottom 25 Countries by Female Labor Force Participation (%)
| # | Country | Female Labor Force Participation (%) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Yemen, Rep. | 4.7% | 2025 |
| 2 |  Afghanistan | 5.1% | 2025 |
| 3 |  Iraq | 10.9% | 2025 |
| 4 |  Syrian Arab Republic | 12.7% | 2025 |
| 5 |  Iran, Islamic Rep. | 14.0% | 2025 |
| 6 |  Algeria | 14.1% | 2025 |
| 7 |  Sudan | 14.5% | 2022 |
| 8 |  Jordan | 16.0% | 2025 |
| 9 |  Egypt, Arab Rep. | 18.5% | 2025 |
| 10 |  West Bank and Gaza | 18.9% | 2022 |
| 11 |  Djibouti | 19.4% | 2025 |
| 12 |  Morocco | 19.7% | 2025 |
| 13 |  Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 20.7% | 2025 |
| 14 |  Tajikistan | 21.9% | 2025 |
| 15 |  Lebanon | 22.2% | 2023 |
| 16 |  Sao Tome and Principe | 22.7% | 2025 |
| 17 |  Pakistan | 24.0% | 2025 |
| 18 |  Mauritania | 26.2% | 2025 |
| 19 |  Tunisia | 26.5% | 2025 |
| 20 |  Nepal | 27.5% | 2025 |
| 21 |  Oman | 30.0% | 2025 |
| 22 |  Samoa | 30.7% | 2025 |
| 23 |  Sri Lanka | 31.0% | 2025 |
| 24 |  India | 32.4% | 2025 |
| 25 |  Libya | 33.0% | 2025 |
Data from 187 countries is available. View full rankings →
FAQ
What is the lowest female labor force participation (%) in 2025?
Yemen, Rep. has the lowest female labor force participation (%) at 4.7% in 2025.
How many countries are included in this ranking?
This article features the bottom 25 countries out of 187 with available data. Full rankings available on the indicator page.
Where does this data come from?
Data is sourced from the World Bank. It is updated regularly as new releases become available.