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Countries in Europe Ranked by Female labour force participation (2025)

Female labour force participation: each country's latest value (2020–2025), ranked from highest to lowest. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).

Summary

Moldova ranks #1 with 72.3% of female population 15+. Iceland is second with 70% of female population 15+, 3.3% behind. The top five are Moldova, Iceland, Netherlands, Switzerland and Norway. The median across all 41 is 55.1% of female population 15+; Bosnia and Herzegovina is last at 39.2% of female population 15+. Moldova's figure has risen 32% since 2001 (54.8% of female population 15+ to 72.3% of female population 15+ in 2025).

#1
Moldova · 72.3% of female population 15+
Median
55.1% of female population 15+
Coverage
41 countries in Europe
Data year
2025
Last updated
2026-11-14
Top 10: Female labour force participationBar chart of the top 10: 1. Moldova 72.3; 2. Iceland 70; 3. Netherlands 62.7; 4. Switzerland 62.2; 5. Norway 62.1; 6. Sweden 61.5; 7. Cyprus 61.2; 8. Estonia 61; 9. Denmark 60.8; 10. Ireland 59.8.Moldova72.3Iceland70Netherlands62.7Switzerland62.2Norway62.1Sweden61.5Cyprus61.2Estonia61Denmark60.8Ireland59.8
Top 10: Female labour force participation (% of female population 15+). Bar chart of the top 10: 1. Moldova 72.3; 2. Iceland 70; 3. Netherlands 62.7; 4. Switzerland 62.2; 5. Norway 62.1; 6. Sweden 61.5; 7. Cyprus 61.2; 8. Estonia 61; 9. Denmark 60.8; 10. Ireland 59.8.
Female labour force participation over time, top 5Moldova: 54.8 in 2001 to 72.3 in 2025; Iceland: 72.6 in 2001 to 70 in 2025; Netherlands: 59.5 in 2001 to 62.7 in 2025; Switzerland: 58.8 in 2001 to 62.2 in 2025; Norway: 61.7 in 2001 to 62.1 in 2025.018.236.554.773200120132025MoldovaIcelandNetherlandsSwitzerlandNorway
Female labour force participation over time, top 5 (% of female population 15+). Moldova: 54.8 in 2001 to 72.3 in 2025; Iceland: 72.6 in 2001 to 70 in 2025; Netherlands: 59.5 in 2001 to 62.7 in 2025; Switzerland: 58.8 in 2001 to 62.2 in 2025; Norway: 61.7 in 2001 to 62.1 in 2025.

Full ranking

Countries in Europe Ranked by Female labour force participation, 2025
RankCountryFemale labour force participation (% of female population 15+)Year
1Moldova72.32025
2Iceland702025
3Netherlands62.72025
4Switzerland62.22025
5Norway62.12025
6Sweden61.52025
7Cyprus61.22025
8Estonia612025
9Denmark60.82025
10Ireland59.82025
11Albania58.62025
12Lithuania57.72025
13Luxembourg57.52025
14United Kingdom57.32025
15Belarus56.82025
16Finland56.52025
17Malta55.82025
18Germany55.32025
19Latvia55.22025
20Slovak Republic55.12025
21Austria55.12025
22Portugal54.62025
23Russian Federation54.52025
24Hungary54.32025
25Czechia53.52025
26Spain52.82025
27Serbia52.62025
28Slovenia52.32025
29Poland51.62025
30France51.52025
31Montenegro51.22025
32Bulgaria50.42025
33Belgium49.82025
34Channel Islands49.22025
35Ukraine47.72021
36Croatia47.42025
37Greece44.72025
38North Macedonia42.72025
39Romania41.82025
40Italy40.82025
41Bosnia and Herzegovina39.22025

About the top 10

#6 Sweden

Sweden ranks #6 on this list with 61.5% of female population 15+.

Capital
Stockholm
Continent
Europe
Income group
High income
Population
10.6 million people (2025)
GDP
US$669 billion (2025)
GDP per person
US$63,133 (2025)
Life expectancy
84.1 years (2024)
Urban population
89.1% of population (2025)

Largest cities: Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö.

Also ranks #3 in researchers in r&d per million · #4 in r&d expenditure share of gdp · #6 in male life expectancy.

Full country profile Weather in Stockholm (Purr Weather)

#9 Denmark

Denmark ranks #9 on this list with 60.8% of female population 15+.

Capital
Copenhagen
Continent
Europe
Income group
High income
Population
6.01 million people (2025)
GDP
US$462.53 billion (2025)
GDP per person
US$76,970 (2025)
Life expectancy
82.3 years (2024)
Urban population
88.8% of population (2025)

Largest cities: Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense.

Also ranks #1 in control of corruption score · #2 in arable land share · #2 in rule of law score.

Full country profile Weather in Copenhagen (Purr Weather)

Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.

Related rankings

Source and method

Female labour force participation: each country's latest value (2020–2025), ranked from highest to lowest.

Source: The World Bank, indicator SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.

The World Bank: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate): ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO) (via World Development Indicators)

Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Values are shown as published. Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.