International Women’s Day 2026: Countries with the highest female workforce participation

1 / 12Women’s participation in the workforce is an important metric of economic conditions and gender equality across countries. The female labour force participation rate is measured by the percentage of women between the ages of 15 and 64 who are either employed or actively looking for employment. According to the data released by the International Labour Organization (ILO), based on the labour force surveys and household surveys across countries, female workforce participation remained high in poor nations as well as developed economies.  Women are more likely to work in extremely rich or very poor countries, rather than in middle-income nations, as per the data compiled by the ILO. For instance, in Madagascar and North Korea, female labour force participation stood at 84-87% in 2025.  (Image Reuters) This International Women’s Day, here’s a look at countries with the highest female labour force participation globally.2 / 12North Korea – 87% | North Korea tops the global list, with about 87% of working-age women participating in the workforce. High involvement has been attributed to government initiatives that support gender equality and employment. (Image Reuters)3 / 12Solomon Islands – 84% | In the Solomon Islands, women are heavily involved in industries including fishing and agriculture. The high female participation in the labour force is mostly characterised by community-based jobs and unofficial employment. (Image Facebook @New Zealand High Commission- Honiara)4 / 12Madagascar – 84% | Madagascar has one of the highest rates of female labour force participation in the world.  A large number of women work in agriculture and the informal sectors. (Image Reuters)5 / 12Iceland – 84% | Iceland’s rising participation of women in the labour force is mostly supported by policy initiatives for gender equality. Women are encouraged to enter and remain in the workforce by generous parental leave, workplace protections and social support networks. (Image Instagram)6 / 12Netherlands – 82% | The Netherlands has one of the highest rates of female employment among European nations. Women are better equipped to manage their home and professional lives due to progressive family policies, flexible work schedules and part-time employment options. (Image Reuters)7 / 12Sweden – 82% | Sweden has maintained a high female employment rate across all industries due to its long-standing focus on gender equality, childcare assistance and equal pay rules. (Image Wikimedia Commons)8 / 12Nigeria – 82% | In Nigeria, women have a significant role in small businesses, agriculture and informal labour. Although many occupations are still low-paying, high participation rates among women are driven by entrepreneurial ventures and small businesses. (Wikimedia Commons)9 / 12Burundi – 81% | Burundi is also one of the countries with the highest rates of female labour force participation. Widespread agricultural employment and social acceptance of women in the workforce are key factors in sustaining high participation rates. (Image YouTube)10 / 12Estonia – 81% | Estonia also accounts for a high rate of female participation in the labour force, with a significant presence of women workers in both public and private sectors. The country has inclusive labour laws and comparatively high levels of female education. (Image Reuters)11 / 12Switzerland – 80% | Switzerland has one of the highest rates of female participation in the workforce, with approximately 80% working women. One significant feature is that 60.7% of working women have part-time jobs, which limits their ability to advance in their careers and become financially independent. (Image Reuters)12 / 12New Zealand – 80% | New Zealand continues to rank among the top countries in the world with one of the highest rates of women entering the workforce. Strong gender equality laws are upheld in the country, where women constitute a sizable share of the workforce and hold a substantial share of managerial and professional roles. (Image Wikimedia Commons)

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