Libya Female Labor Participation
Female labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS
Libya's female labor participation was 33.00% in 2025, ranked 160th globally. This represents a 0.9% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Libya's female labor participation stood at 33.00% in 2025, a decline of +0.29pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 33.82% by 2026. Libya ranked 160th globally.
Libya's female labor participation rate has fluctuated over the 36 years of available data, with the latest figure standing at 32.99% as of 2025, ranking 160th globally. This is slightly below the all-time peak of 34.13% achieved in 2014. In comparison, peer countries such as Saudi Arabia have a slightly higher rate of 33.57%, while India's rate of 32.42% is marginally lower. The lowest participation rate was recorded in 1990, at 26.51%, highlighting the progress made since then. Libya's rate is also higher than Sri Lanka's 30.99%, another comparable country. As the country continues to navigate its economic and social landscape, a sustained increase in female labor participation would likely require targeted initiatives to address existing barriers and promote greater inclusion, which could potentially alter the trajectory of this trend in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Female Labor Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 34.41% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 34.12% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 33.82% | - | - |
| 2025 | 33.00% | −0.29pp | #160 |
| 2024 | 33.28% | −0.19pp | #160 |
| 2023 | 33.47% | −0.17pp | #161 |
| 2022 | 33.63% | +2.28pp | #161 |
| 2021 | 31.35% | +0.34pp | #163 |
| 2020 | 31.01% | −2.98pp | #162 |
| 2019 | 33.99% | −0.05pp | #162 |
| 2018 | 34.04% | −0.04pp | #161 |
| 2017 | 34.08% | −0.03pp | #161 |
| 2016 | 34.11% | −0.02pp | #160 |
| 2015 | 34.13% | −0.00pp | #159 |
| 2014 | 34.14% | +0.06pp | #157 |
| 2013 | 34.07% | +0.13pp | #157 |
| 2012 | 33.94% | −0.12pp | #158 |
| 2011 | 34.06% | −0.02pp | #158 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Libya matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2017. 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
Libya's female labor participation was 33.00% in 2025. Ranked 160th globally. This represents a 0.9% decrease from the previous year.
Libya's female labor participation peaked at 34.14% in 2014.
The lowest female labor participation in Libya was 26.51% in 1990.
Libya ranks 160th globally in female labor participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Libya's female labor participation is projected to reach 33.82% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The female labor participation of Libya in 2025 was 33.00%. This ranks 160th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_libya_female-labor-participation,
title = {Libya Female Labor Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/libya/female-labor-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}