Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Iran
Iran: Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) was 37.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Iran, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Iran stood at 37.6%.
That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and up 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Iran peaked at 41.6% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 35.5%, in 2011.
That places Iran 171st out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 41.6% | — |
| 1992 | 41.4% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 41.0% | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 40.5% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 40.2% | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 39.9% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 39.7% | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 39.4% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 39.1% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 39.0% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 38.8% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 38.9% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 39.8% | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 40.8% | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 40.7% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 40.1% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 39.6% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 37.8% | -4.7% |
| 2009 | 37.8% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 36.5% | -3.5% |
| 2011 | 35.5% | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 36.6% | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 36.8% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 36.5% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 37.3% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 37.7% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 38.8% | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 39.0% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 39.3% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 37.4% | -5.0% |
| 2021 | 37.2% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 36.9% | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 38.1% | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 37.9% | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 37.6% | -0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 40.3% | 39.1% | 41.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 39.3% | 37.8% | 40.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.4% | 35.5% | 39.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.5% | 36.9% | 38.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran
- 168 Lebanon 38.7% compare
- 169 Tunisia 38.4% compare
- 170 South Africa 37.6% compare
- 172 Mauritania 36.6% compare
- 173 Algeria 36.0% compare
- 174 Tajikistan 35.6% compare
More work & labour data for Iran
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 44,188 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 40.34 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 29,874 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 36.89 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.89 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.574 % change on previous year (2027)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 41.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Iran?
- Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Iran was 37.6% 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 41.6% in 1991.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.5% in 2011.
- How does Iran rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%)?
- Iran ranks 171st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iran 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.