Employment rate, men vs. women in Iran
Iran: Employment rate, men vs. women was 62.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment rate, men vs. women in Iran, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, employment rate, men vs. women in Iran stood at 62.7%.
That represents a change of down 0.8% on the previous year and up 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate, men vs. women in Iran peaked at 73.9% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 59.5%, in 2011.
That places Iran 118th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment rate, men vs. women in Iran, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 73.9% | — |
| 1992 | 73.2% | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 72.2% | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 71.0% | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 70.1% | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 69.3% | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 68.5% | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 67.6% | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 66.7% | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 66.0% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 65.4% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 64.9% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 65.5% | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 66.1% | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 65.0% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 64.0% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 63.9% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 62.2% | -2.6% |
| 2009 | 61.7% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 60.1% | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 59.5% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 60.5% | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 62.0% | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 61.8% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 62.1% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 61.9% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 63.0% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 63.2% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 64.0% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 62.4% | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 62.7% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 61.7% | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 63.6% | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 63.1% | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 62.7% | -0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 70.3% | 66.7% | 73.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 64.5% | 61.7% | 66.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.8% | 59.5% | 64.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.7% | 61.7% | 63.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran
- 115 Azerbaijan 62.9% compare
- 116 Slovakia 62.8% compare
- 117 Albania 62.7% compare
- 119 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 62.3% compare
- 120 Morocco 62.3% compare
- 121 Equatorial Guinea 62.1% 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 rate, men vs. women in Iran?
- Employment rate, men vs. women in Iran was 62.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate, men vs. women recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 73.9% in 1991.
- What is the lowest employment rate, men vs. women recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.5% in 2011.
- How does Iran rank for employment rate, men vs. women?
- Iran ranks 118th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate, men vs. women 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, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate, men vs. women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the male working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.