Gambia, The Female Labor Participation
Female labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS
Gambia, The's female labor participation was 45.46% in 2025, ranked 135th globally. This represents a 0.1% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Gambia, The's female labor participation stood at 45.46% in 2025, a rise of +0.03pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 45.63% by 2026. Gambia, The ranked 135th globally.
Female labor force participation in The Gambia has remained remarkably stable over the 36‑year span from 1990 to 2025, moving from 45.28 % in 1990 to 45.46 % in the latest year, a rise of just 0.18 percentage points. The modest upward swing peaked in 2004 at 45.72 %, while the lowest point occurred in 2016 at 44.38 %, suggesting only limited volatility despite broader regional economic shifts. In 2025 The Gambia ranks 135th globally, closely flanked by Costa Rica at 46.02 % and Suriname at 44.91 %, indicating that its female participation sits near the median of comparable small economies. The persistence of a narrow band around the mid‑40s reflects enduring structural constraints such as limited formal sector opportunities and cultural norms, yet the slight recent uptick hints at gradual progress. Continued investment in skills development and gender‑responsive labor policies could accelerate participation and push the trajectory upward in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Female Labor Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 45.89% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 45.76% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 45.63% | - | - |
| 2025 | 45.46% | +0.03pp | #135 |
| 2024 | 45.43% | +0.19pp | #134 |
| 2023 | 45.24% | +0.11pp | #134 |
| 2022 | 45.13% | +0.16pp | #135 |
| 2021 | 44.97% | +0.14pp | #133 |
| 2020 | 44.82% | −0.19pp | #129 |
| 2019 | 45.02% | +0.23pp | #136 |
| 2018 | 44.79% | +0.29pp | #137 |
| 2017 | 44.50% | +0.12pp | #139 |
| 2016 | 44.38% | −0.09pp | #140 |
| 2015 | 44.47% | +0.06pp | #136 |
| 2014 | 44.40% | −0.35pp | #135 |
| 2013 | 44.75% | −0.03pp | #132 |
| 2012 | 44.78% | +0.13pp | #133 |
| 2011 | 44.65% | −0.89pp | #131 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Gambia, The matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 2023. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw female labor participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Gambia, The's female labor participation was 45.46% in 2025. Ranked 135th globally. This represents a 0.1% increase from the previous year.
Gambia, The's female labor participation peaked at 45.72% in 2004.
The lowest female labor participation in Gambia, The was 44.38% in 2016.
Gambia, The ranks 135th globally in female labor participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Gambia, The's female labor participation is projected to reach 45.63% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The female labor participation of Gambia, The in 2025 was 45.46%. This ranks 135th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_gambia-the_female-labor-participation,
title = {Gambia, The Female Labor Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/gambia-the/female-labor-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}