Employment rate, men vs. women in Iraq
Iraq: Employment rate, men vs. women was 63.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment rate, men vs. women in Iraq, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Iraq recorded 63.0% for employment rate, men vs. women in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate, men vs. women in Iraq peaked at 72.6% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 59.3%, in 2021.
Iraq ranks 114th of 186 countries on this measure, 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 Iraq, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 72.6% | — |
| 1992 | 72.5% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 72.3% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 72.3% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 71.9% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 71.7% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 71.6% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 71.2% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 70.8% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 70.2% | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 69.5% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 68.7% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 68.0% | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 67.7% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 67.3% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 66.9% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 66.3% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 66.4% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 66.3% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 66.2% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 66.2% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 66.2% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 66.7% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 67.1% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 66.6% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 66.4% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 65.9% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 64.1% | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 62.1% | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 60.9% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 59.3% | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 62.9% | +6.1% |
| 2023 | 63.4% | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 63.1% | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 63.0% | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 71.9% | 70.8% | 72.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 67.7% | 66.3% | 70.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 65.8% | 62.1% | 67.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.1% | 59.3% | 63.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More work & labour data for Iraq
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1891 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1939 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.1833 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2038 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.31 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 65,560 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 15,931 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 50,009 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 50,640 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 100,649 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate, men vs. women in Iraq?
- Employment rate, men vs. women in Iraq was 63.0% 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 72.6% in 1991.
- What is the lowest employment rate, men vs. women recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.3% in 2021.
- How does Iraq rank for employment rate, men vs. women?
- Iraq ranks 114th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate, men vs. women rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iraq 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.