Myanmar Female Labor Participation
Female labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS
Myanmar's female labor participation was 40.94% in 2025, ranked 146th globally. This represents a 0.0% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Myanmar's female labor participation stood at 40.94% in 2025, a decline of +0.02pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 40.92% by 2026. Myanmar ranked 146th globally.
Myanmar’s female labor force participation has fallen sharply over the 36‑year span from a high of 59.77 % in 1991 to 40.94 % in 2025, placing the country 146th globally. The decline of nearly 19 percentage points reflects structural constraints, limited access to formal employment, and persistent gender norms that have intensified since the early 2000s. By contrast, peers such as Uzbekistan (41.18 %) and Italy (40.81 %) hover near the same level, but Myanmar’s trajectory is markedly downward rather than stable. The all‑time trough recorded in 2025 underscores the depth of the labor market squeeze for women, while the early‑1990s peak coincided with a period of relative economic liberalisation that briefly expanded job opportunities. Continued reforms aimed at improving education, childcare provision, and sectoral diversification could help reverse the decline, suggesting that future female participation may stabilise or modestly rise if policy interventions are effectively implemented.
Data & projection
| Year | Female Labor Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 40.86% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 40.89% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 40.92% | - | - |
| 2025 | 40.94% | −0.02pp | #146 |
| 2024 | 40.96% | −0.09pp | #147 |
| 2023 | 41.05% | −0.02pp | #150 |
| 2022 | 41.07% | +0.03pp | #150 |
| 2021 | 41.04% | −3.68pp | #147 |
| 2020 | 44.73% | −1.56pp | #130 |
| 2019 | 46.29% | −2.15pp | #132 |
| 2018 | 48.44% | +0.78pp | #127 |
| 2017 | 47.66% | −1.57pp | #125 |
| 2016 | 49.23% | −1.57pp | #115 |
| 2015 | 50.80% | −0.15pp | #105 |
| 2014 | 50.95% | −0.19pp | #103 |
| 2013 | 51.14% | −0.21pp | #101 |
| 2012 | 51.35% | −0.19pp | #100 |
| 2011 | 51.53% | −0.14pp | #98 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Myanmar matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2009. 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
Myanmar's female labor participation was 40.94% in 2025. Ranked 146th globally. This represents a 0.0% decrease from the previous year.
Myanmar's female labor participation peaked at 59.77% in 1991.
The lowest female labor participation in Myanmar was 40.94% in 2025.
Myanmar ranks 146th globally in female labor participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Myanmar's female labor participation is projected to reach 40.92% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The female labor participation of Myanmar in 2025 was 40.94%. This ranks 146th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_myanmar_female-labor-participation,
title = {Myanmar Female Labor Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/myanmar/female-labor-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}