Burundi Female Labor Participation
Female labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS
Burundi's female labor participation was 79.50% in 2025, ranked 5th globally. This represents a 0.3% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Burundi's female labor participation stood at 79.50% in 2025, a decline of +0.23pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 79.24% by 2026. Burundi ranked 5th globally.
Burundi’s female labor force participation stands at 79.50 % in 2025, ranking fifth worldwide, and reflects a gradual decline from its all‑time peak of 90.45 % recorded in 1990. The sharpest dip occurred in 2006 when participation fell to a trough of 77.06 %, after which the indicator has recovered modestly but remains well below the early‑1990s level. Compared with regional peers, Tanzania registers a slightly higher rate of 80.28 % and Nigeria 80.70 %, while the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea posts 77.71 % and Cambodia 77.35 %, underscoring Burundi’s position near the top of the global distribution despite the long‑term downward trend. The persistence of high female labor engagement suggests structural reliance on women’s work in agriculture and informal sectors, yet the lingering gap from the 1990 peak indicates vulnerability to economic shocks and limited formal employment opportunities. Continued investment in skill development and formal sector integration could reverse the modest decline and sustain the upward trajectory observed in recent years.
Data & projection
| Year | Female Labor Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 78.74% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 78.99% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 79.24% | - | - |
| 2025 | 79.50% | −0.23pp | #5 |
| 2024 | 79.73% | −0.25pp | #5 |
| 2023 | 79.98% | −0.27pp | #5 |
| 2022 | 80.25% | −0.24pp | #4 |
| 2021 | 80.49% | +1.93pp | #3 |
| 2020 | 78.56% | −2.33pp | #4 |
| 2019 | 80.89% | −0.18pp | #3 |
| 2018 | 81.07% | −0.01pp | #3 |
| 2017 | 81.09% | +0.09pp | #3 |
| 2016 | 81.00% | +0.22pp | #3 |
| 2015 | 80.78% | +0.32pp | #3 |
| 2014 | 80.46% | +0.22pp | #3 |
| 2013 | 80.24% | +0.28pp | #5 |
| 2012 | 79.95% | +0.32pp | #5 |
| 2011 | 79.63% | +0.36pp | #6 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Burundi matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2023. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw female labor participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Burundi's female labor participation was 79.50% in 2025. Ranked 5th globally. This represents a 0.3% decrease from the previous year.
Burundi's female labor participation peaked at 90.45% in 1990.
The lowest female labor participation in Burundi was 77.06% in 2006.
Burundi ranks 5th globally in female labor participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Burundi's female labor participation is projected to reach 79.24% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The female labor participation of Burundi in 2025 was 79.50%. This ranks 5th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_burundi_female-labor-participation,
title = {Burundi Female Labor Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/burundi/female-labor-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}