Bangladesh — Labor participation
Labor Force Participation Rate for Bangladesh, 1990–2025.
Labor participation for Bangladesh was 58.80% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 36 years, from 1990 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 61.87% in 2022. The lowest was 56.09% in 2016 (about 1.0× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 0.10% per year.
Bangladesh ranks 113 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 60%. The median for South Asia is 58.80%, so Bangladesh sits level with it. It peaked in 2022 and has fallen 5% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved up 4%. Within South Asia it ranks 3 of 6 economies; India (55.66%) is just below it.
Data highlights
World ranking. Climbed: 130th of 187 in 1990 → 125th of 187 in 2000 → 123rd of 187 in 2010 → 97th of 187 in 2020 → 112th of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2025
| Year | % of population ages 15+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 58.8% | -0.1 pp |
| 2024 | 58.9% | -2.0 pp |
| 2023 | 60.89% | -1.0 pp |
| 2022 | 61.87% | +0.8 pp |
| 2021 | 61.09% | +1.3 pp |
| 2020 | 59.77% | +0.3 pp |
| 2019 | 59.47% | +0.6 pp |
| 2018 | 58.92% | +0.6 pp |
| 2017 | 58.33% | +2.2 pp |
| 2016 | 56.09% | -0.4 pp |
| 2015 | 56.45% | -0.4 pp |
| 2014 | 56.82% | -0.4 pp |
| 2013 | 57.18% | -0.5 pp |
| 2012 | 57.65% | -0.5 pp |
| 2011 | 58.11% | -0.5 pp |
| 2010 | 58.58% | +0.1 pp |
| 2009 | 58.45% | +0.1 pp |
| 2008 | 58.32% | +0.1 pp |
| 2007 | 58.2% | +0.1 pp |
| 2006 | 58.07% | -0.0 pp |
| 2005 | 58.12% | -0.0 pp |
| 2004 | 58.16% | -0.0 pp |
| 2003 | 58.19% | -0.0 pp |
| 2002 | 58.21% | +0.0 pp |
| 2001 | 58.21% | +0.0 pp |
| 2000 | 58.16% | +0.1 pp |
| 1999 | 58.08% | +0.1 pp |
| 1998 | 57.97% | +0.1 pp |
| 1997 | 57.84% | +0.1 pp |
| 1996 | 57.69% | +0.2 pp |
| 1995 | 57.53% | +0.2 pp |
| 1994 | 57.38% | +0.2 pp |
| 1993 | 57.22% | +0.1 pp |
| 1992 | 57.07% | +0.2 pp |
| 1991 | 56.92% | +0.1 pp |
| 1990 | 56.78% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Bangladesh’s Labor participation in 1991?
56.92% (1991). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of population ages 15+, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Bangladesh’s Labor participation growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2025 the series was growing overall: +3.6% in total — about 0.1% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 58.8%; 2024: 58.9%; 2023: 60.89%; 2022: 61.87%; 2021: 61.09%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SL.TLF.CACT.ZS — Labor Force Participation Rate. Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.