Somalia, Fed. Rep. Female Labor Participation
Female labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS
Somalia, Fed. Rep.'s female labor participation was 20.70% in 2025, ranked 171st globally. This represents a 0.1% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Somalia, Fed. Rep.'s female labor participation stood at 20.70% in 2025, a decline of +0.02pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 20.62% by 2026. Somalia, Fed. Rep. ranked 171st globally.
Somalia's female labor participation rate, a key indicator of women's economic empowerment, has experienced a mixed trajectory over the past three and a half decades. At its peak in 1993, the rate reached 21.45%, but declined to a trough of 20.55% in 2008, before rebounding to 20.70% in 2025. Although this places Somalia at rank 171 globally, its performance is comparable to that of its regional peer, Djibouti, which has a rate of 19.36%. Notably, Somalia's rate has not surpassed the global average and still lags behind more developed countries. The rate has oscillated within a narrow band, with fluctuations largely driven by the country's tumultuous economic and security environment. To break this trend, Somalia would need to address its significant development challenges and invest in education and job training programs aimed at increasing women's participation in the labor market.
Data & projection
| Year | Female Labor Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 20.54% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 20.58% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 20.62% | - | - |
| 2025 | 20.70% | −0.02pp | #171 |
| 2024 | 20.72% | +0.02pp | #171 |
| 2023 | 20.71% | +0.04pp | #173 |
| 2022 | 20.67% | −0.27pp | #173 |
| 2021 | 20.93% | +0.04pp | #173 |
| 2020 | 20.89% | −0.20pp | #173 |
| 2019 | 21.09% | +0.04pp | #174 |
| 2018 | 21.06% | +0.05pp | #175 |
| 2017 | 21.01% | +0.04pp | #176 |
| 2016 | 20.97% | +0.02pp | #177 |
| 2015 | 20.94% | +0.02pp | #177 |
| 2014 | 20.92% | +0.02pp | #176 |
| 2013 | 20.89% | +0.04pp | #176 |
| 2012 | 20.86% | +0.12pp | #176 |
| 2011 | 20.73% | +0.12pp | #176 |
Analysis
Somalia, Fed. Rep.'s female labor participation was 20.70% in 2025, a decline of −0.02pp from 2024. Based on trends, estimated 20.62% by 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Somalia, Fed. Rep.'s female labor participation was 20.70% in 2025. Ranked 171st globally. This represents a 0.1% decrease from the previous year.
Somalia, Fed. Rep.'s female labor participation peaked at 21.45% in 1993.
The lowest female labor participation in Somalia, Fed. Rep. was 20.55% in 2008.
Somalia, Fed. Rep. ranks 171st globally in female labor participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Somalia, Fed. Rep.'s female labor participation is projected to reach 20.62% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The female labor participation of Somalia, Fed. Rep. in 2025 was 20.70%. This ranks 171st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_somalia-fed-rep_female-labor-participation,
title = {Somalia, Fed. Rep. Female Labor Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/somalia-fed-rep/female-labor-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}