Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) was 32.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Afghanistan, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 32.5% for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in 2025.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 24.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Afghanistan peaked at 43.4% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 32.3%, in 2023.
Afghanistan ranks 181st of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 43.4% | — |
| 1992 | 43.3% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 43.3% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 43.2% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 43.2% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 43.1% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 43.1% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 43.0% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 42.9% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 42.9% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 42.8% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 42.8% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 42.9% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 42.9% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 42.9% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 42.9% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 43.0% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 43.0% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 43.1% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 43.2% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 43.2% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 43.3% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 43.3% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 43.4% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 42.9% | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 42.5% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 42.0% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 40.5% | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 38.9% | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 36.7% | -5.7% |
| 2021 | 35.8% | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 32.3% | -9.7% |
| 2023 | 32.3% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 32.4% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 32.5% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 43.2% | 42.9% | 43.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 42.9% | 42.8% | 43.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.3% | 38.9% | 43.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.7% | 32.3% | 36.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
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 to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Afghanistan?
- Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Afghanistan was 32.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 43.4% in 1991.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.3% in 2023.
- How does Afghanistan rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%)?
- Afghanistan ranks 181st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed.