Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) was 46.9% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
46.9%
Change on year
up 27.8%
World rank
147th
of 178 countries
All-time high
61.7%
in 2008
All-time low
36.7%
in 2020
Years of data
6
2008–2021

Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Afghanistan, 2008–2021

02040602008201420212008: 61.72012: 46.22014: 47.62017: 422020: 36.72021: 46.9

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

In 2021, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Afghanistan stood at 46.9%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 27.8% on the previous year and up 1.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Afghanistan peaked at 61.7% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 36.7%, in 2020.

Afghanistan ranks 147th of 178 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Afghanistan, year by year

Annual values for Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (national estimate) in Afghanistan, 2008 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2008 61.7%
2012 46.2% -25.2%
2014 47.6% +3.2%
2017 42.0% -11.8%
2020 36.7% -12.6%
2021 46.9% +27.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 61.7% 61.7% 61.7% 1
2010s 45.3% 42.0% 47.6% 3
2020s 41.8% 36.7% 46.9% 2

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

  1. 144 Curaçao 47.8% compare
  2. 145 American Samoa 47.8%
  3. 146 Namibia 47.2% compare
  4. 148 Bosnia and Herzegovina 46.8% compare
  5. 149 Italy 46.8% compare
  6. 150 Timor-Leste 46.0% compare

See the full ranking of 209 places →

More work & labour data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Afghanistan?
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Afghanistan was 46.9% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in Afghanistan?
The highest recorded value was 61.7% in 2008.
What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in Afghanistan?
The lowest recorded value was 36.7% in 2020.
How does Afghanistan rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%)?
Afghanistan ranks 147th out of 178 countries with data for 2021.
Is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) rising or falling in Afghanistan?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Afghanistan. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/employment-to-population-ratio-15-total-percent-national-estimate/afghanistan/

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About this data

Indicator
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
209 places, 4,960 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed.