Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (national estimate) in Iran
Iran: Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (national estimate) was 37.6% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Iran, 1986–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Iran is 37.6%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Iran peaked at 40.1% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 33.5%, in 1986.
That places Iran 166th out of 178 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (national estimate) in Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 33.5% | — |
| 1991 | 33.9% | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 40.1% | +18.4% |
| 2005 | 40.1% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 39.4% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 39.0% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 37.0% | -4.9% |
| 2009 | 37.2% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 35.9% | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 35.0% | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 35.6% | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 36.2% | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 35.9% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 36.7% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 37.2% | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 38.4% | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 38.7% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 39.0% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 37.0% | -5.2% |
| 2021 | 36.8% | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 36.9% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 37.6% | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 37.6% | -0.0% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 37.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 58.4%, 64% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Iran's 37.6% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 46.0%, 82% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 33.5% | 33.5% | 33.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 37.0% | 33.9% | 40.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 38.5% | 37.0% | 40.1% | 5 |
| 2010s | 36.9% | 35.0% | 39.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.2% | 36.8% | 37.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iran
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)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 8.53 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 2.43 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 57,320 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 20,416 (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)
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 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 40.1% in 1996.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.5% in 1986.
- How does Iran rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%)?
- Iran ranks 166th out of 178 countries with data for 2024.
- Is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Iran 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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About this data
Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed.