Tanzania Female Labor Participation
Female labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS
Tanzania's female labor participation was 80.28% in 2025, ranked 4th globally. This represents a 0.0% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Tanzania's female labor participation stood at 80.28% in 2025, a decline of +0.01pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 80.24% by 2026. Tanzania ranked 4th globally.
Tanzania’s female labor‑force participation has declined modestly from an early‑1990 level of 84.05% to 80.28% in 2025, placing the country fourth worldwide. The indicator reached its all‑time high of 87.12% in 2006 before slipping to a trough of 79.34% in 2020, suggesting that the recent downturn follows a longer‑term downward drift rather than a temporary shock. Compared with regional peers, Tanzania’s rate is slightly below Nigeria’s 80.70% and above Burundi’s 79.50%, while still exceeding the participation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea at 77.71%. The 36‑year coverage shows a persistent, albeit gradual, erosion of women’s engagement in the labor market, reflecting structural constraints such as limited access to formal employment and persistent gender norms. Continued investment in skills development, childcare services, and inclusive labor policies could reverse the current trajectory and sustain higher participation levels in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Female Labor Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 80.18% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 80.21% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 80.24% | - | - |
| 2025 | 80.28% | −0.01pp | #4 |
| 2024 | 80.29% | −0.04pp | #4 |
| 2023 | 80.33% | +0.06pp | #4 |
| 2022 | 80.27% | −0.15pp | #3 |
| 2021 | 80.43% | +1.08pp | #4 |
| 2020 | 79.34% | −0.92pp | #3 |
| 2019 | 80.27% | +0.03pp | #4 |
| 2018 | 80.23% | +0.03pp | #4 |
| 2017 | 80.20% | +0.04pp | #4 |
| 2016 | 80.16% | +0.04pp | #4 |
| 2015 | 80.12% | +0.03pp | #4 |
| 2014 | 80.09% | −1.01pp | #4 |
| 2013 | 81.10% | −0.97pp | #4 |
| 2012 | 82.07% | −0.93pp | #3 |
| 2011 | 83.00% | −0.89pp | #2 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Tanzania matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 2012. 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
Tanzania's female labor participation was 80.28% in 2025. Ranked 4th globally. This represents a 0.0% decrease from the previous year.
Tanzania's female labor participation peaked at 87.12% in 2006.
The lowest female labor participation in Tanzania was 79.34% in 2020.
Tanzania ranks 4th globally in female labor participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Tanzania's female labor participation is projected to reach 80.24% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The female labor participation of Tanzania in 2025 was 80.28%. This ranks 4th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_tanzania_female-labor-participation,
title = {Tanzania Female Labor Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/tanzania/female-labor-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}