A new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) reveals that more than half of women in India are choosing to stay away from the workforce to manage household responsibilities. In contrast, only 1% of men are opting for homemaking.

The ILO report highlights a stark contrast between nations, underscoring varying societal attitudes toward gender roles and the balance between work and family. While countries like Iran see a high percentage of women focused on homemaking, nations in Scandinavia, such as Denmark and Norway, exhibit much lower rates, suggesting more gender-equitable labour market participation.

Key findings:

• 53% of women in India are fully dedicated to homemaking, while only 1.1% of men take on household duties.
• Iran has the highest proportion of women staying away from work to focus on family, with 81% of women in the country not employed for this reason. In comparison, only 2.2% of men in Iran are doing the same.
• Denmark boasts the highest participation of women in the workforce, with only 2% of women staying home for family care, while just 0.3% of men are not employed.

Countries with the highest percentage of women staying away from work for family:

• Iran – 81%
• Thailand – 72.5%
• Iraq – 72.5%
• Egypt – 72.1%
• Yemen – 69.9%
• Mexico – 69.7%
• Bangladesh – 67.9%
• Honduras – 65.3%
• Jordan – 65.1%

Countries with the lowest percentage of women staying away from work for family:

• Denmark – 2%
• Norway – 2.4%
• Sweden – 3.2%
• Switzerland – 4.5%
• Finland – 4.6%
• Slovenia – 4.7%
• Lithuania – 6.4%