Sierra Leone Female Labor Participation
Female labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS
Sierra Leone's female labor participation was 51.60% in 2025, ranked 107th globally. This represents a 0.4% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Sierra Leone's female labor participation stood at 51.60% in 2025, a decline of +0.21pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 51.80% by 2026. Sierra Leone ranked 107th globally.
Sierra Leone's female labor participation rate has experienced a mixed trajectory over the past three and a half decades. After reaching a peak of 65.92% in 2004, the rate declined to a trough of 51.09% in 2020, before rebounding to 51.60% in 2025. This represents a significant decline of 14.04 percentage points from the peak, and a reduction of 0.51 percentage points from the trough. When compared to peer countries, Sierra Leone's rate is closely aligned with the European Union's rate of 51.61% in 2025. Notably, the country's female labor participation rate has been on a declining trend since 2004, with only a slight recovery in recent years. A sustained increase in education and vocational training for women, coupled with improved economic opportunities and reduced gender-based barriers, could potentially alter the trajectory of this trend and propel the country towards a more robust female labor market.
Data & projection
| Year | Female Labor Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 51.89% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 51.84% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 51.80% | - | - |
| 2025 | 51.60% | −0.21pp | #107 |
| 2024 | 51.82% | +0.04pp | #106 |
| 2023 | 51.77% | +0.17pp | #110 |
| 2022 | 51.61% | +0.13pp | #104 |
| 2021 | 51.47% | +0.38pp | #102 |
| 2020 | 51.09% | −0.49pp | #98 |
| 2019 | 51.58% | +0.17pp | #105 |
| 2018 | 51.42% | −1.23pp | #104 |
| 2017 | 52.64% | −1.23pp | #93 |
| 2016 | 53.87% | −1.22pp | #86 |
| 2015 | 55.09% | −1.22pp | #74 |
| 2014 | 56.31% | −1.00pp | #61 |
| 2013 | 57.30% | −0.99pp | #59 |
| 2012 | 58.29% | −0.98pp | #54 |
| 2011 | 59.28% | −0.98pp | #49 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Sierra Leone matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2023. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw female labor participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Sierra Leone's female labor participation was 51.60% in 2025. Ranked 107th globally. This represents a 0.4% decrease from the previous year.
Sierra Leone's female labor participation peaked at 65.92% in 2004.
The lowest female labor participation in Sierra Leone was 51.09% in 2020.
Sierra Leone ranks 107th globally in female labor participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Sierra Leone's female labor participation is projected to reach 51.80% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The female labor participation of Sierra Leone in 2025 was 51.60%. This ranks 107th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_sierra-leone_female-labor-participation,
title = {Sierra Leone Female Labor Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/sierra-leone/female-labor-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}