Employment in services, male (% of male employment) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Employment in services, male (% of male employment) was 31.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in services, male (% of male employment) in Afghanistan, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in services, male (% of male employment) in Afghanistan is 31.1%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 16.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in services, male (% of male employment) in Afghanistan peaked at 41.3% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 22.3%, in 1994.
That places Afghanistan 171st out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in services, male (% of male employment) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 22.8% | — |
| 1992 | 22.6% | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 22.5% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 22.3% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 22.7% | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 23.1% | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 23.5% | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 23.8% | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 24.0% | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 24.3% | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 23.6% | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 25.0% | +6.0% |
| 2003 | 25.4% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 25.4% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 26.2% | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 26.4% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 27.5% | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 27.9% | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 30.1% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | 32.4% | +7.7% |
| 2011 | 32.9% | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 34.6% | +5.2% |
| 2013 | 34.8% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 35.4% | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 37.1% | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 38.9% | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 40.7% | +4.7% |
| 2018 | 40.8% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 41.3% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 39.2% | -5.1% |
| 2021 | 35.2% | -10.3% |
| 2022 | 31.0% | -11.8% |
| 2023 | 31.1% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 31.1% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 31.1% | -0.1% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 31.1% is above the median for low income countries, which is 31.1%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 31.1% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 58.0%, 54% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 23.0% | 22.3% | 24.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 26.2% | 23.6% | 30.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.9% | 32.4% | 41.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.1% | 31.0% | 39.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 168 Republic of Moldova 31.8% compare
- 169 Burkina Faso 31.4% compare
- 170 Guinea-Bissau 31.1% compare
- 172 Malawi 30.9% compare
- 173 Uganda 29.9% compare
- 174 Lesotho 29.8% compare
More work & labour data for Afghanistan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.4637 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4511 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4755 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.088 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.67 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 25,498 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 36,430 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 65,039 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 65,177 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 130,217 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in services, male (% of male employment) in Afghanistan?
- Employment in services, male (% of male employment) in Afghanistan was 31.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment in services, male (% of male employment) recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 41.3% in 2019.
- What is the lowest employment in services, male (% of male employment) recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.3% in 1994.
- How does Afghanistan rank for employment in services, male (% of male employment)?
- Afghanistan ranks 171st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment in services, male (% of male employment) rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment in services, male (% of male employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment is defined as persons of working age who were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangement. The services sector consists of wholesale and retail trade and restaurants and hotels; transport, storage, and communications; financing, insurance, real estate, and business services; and community, social, and personal services, in accordance with divisions 6-9 (ISIC 2) or categories G-Q (ISIC 3) or categories G-U (ISIC 4).