France Female Labor Participation
Female labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS
France's female labor participation was 51.48% in 2025, ranked 108th globally. This represents a 0.6% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
France's female labor participation stood at 51.48% in 2025, a decline of +0.29pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 51.66% by 2026. France ranked 108th globally.
France's female labor participation rate has seen a relatively modest increase over the past three and a half decades, with the indicator standing at 51.48% as of 2025. The country's all-time high of 52.11% was reached in 2023, while the low point of 46.42% occurred in both 1990. Compared to its peers, such as Sierra Leone which ranks higher at 51.60%, France's female labor participation rate lags. The European Union, to which France belongs, also holds a slightly higher rate at 51.61%. Although the country has made progress in increasing female participation, it still ranks 108 globally. The pace of improvement has been steady but slow, with the rate increasing by approximately 4.75 percentage points from 1990 to 2023. Continued advancements in education and family-friendly policies could potentially accelerate the growth of female labor participation in France, enabling the country to close the gap with its peers and reach a higher global ranking.
Data & projection
| Year | Female Labor Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 51.60% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 51.63% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 51.66% | - | - |
| 2025 | 51.48% | −0.29pp | #108 |
| 2024 | 51.77% | −0.33pp | #107 |
| 2023 | 52.11% | +0.25pp | #105 |
| 2022 | 51.86% | +0.26pp | #103 |
| 2021 | 51.61% | +1.56pp | #100 |
| 2020 | 50.05% | −0.57pp | #106 |
| 2019 | 50.62% | −0.20pp | #111 |
| 2018 | 50.81% | +0.19pp | #109 |
| 2017 | 50.63% | −0.20pp | #110 |
| 2016 | 50.83% | −0.13pp | #106 |
| 2015 | 50.96% | −0.05pp | #103 |
| 2014 | 51.01% | −0.31pp | #102 |
| 2013 | 51.32% | +0.12pp | #99 |
| 2012 | 51.20% | +0.20pp | #102 |
| 2011 | 51.00% | −0.09pp | #103 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
France matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2019. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw female labor participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
France's female labor participation was 51.48% in 2025. Ranked 108th globally. This represents a 0.6% decrease from the previous year.
France's female labor participation peaked at 52.11% in 2023.
The lowest female labor participation in France was 46.42% in 1990.
France ranks 108th globally in female labor participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
France's female labor participation is projected to reach 51.66% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The female labor participation of France in 2025 was 51.48%. This ranks 108th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_france_female-labor-participation,
title = {France Female Labor Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/france/female-labor-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}