Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Iran, Islamic Republic of
Iran, Islamic Republic of: Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 was 12.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Iran, Islamic Republic of, 1986–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Iran, Islamic Republic of is 12.1%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Iran, Islamic Republic of peaked at 15.5% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 6.1%, in 1986.
Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 169th of 172 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Iran, Islamic Republic of, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 6.1% | — |
| 1991 | 6.6% | +8.2% |
| 1996 | 9.9% | +49.3% |
| 2005 | 15.5% | +57.1% |
| 2006 | 15.1% | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 14.3% | -5.3% |
| 2008 | 12.3% | -14.0% |
| 2009 | 13.1% | +6.3% |
| 2010 | 12.1% | -7.7% |
| 2011 | 10.9% | -10.3% |
| 2012 | 11.9% | +9.9% |
| 2013 | 10.7% | -9.9% |
| 2014 | 10.5% | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 11.6% | +10.8% |
| 2016 | 12.9% | +11.0% |
| 2017 | 13.9% | +8.2% |
| 2018 | 14.2% | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 14.0% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 11.7% | -16.4% |
| 2021 | 11.1% | -4.9% |
| 2022 | 11.4% | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 12.1% | +5.7% |
| 2024 | 12.1% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 6.1% | 6.1% | 6.1% | 1 |
| 1990s | 8.2% | 6.6% | 9.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 14.1% | 12.3% | 15.5% | 5 |
| 2010s | 12.3% | 10.5% | 14.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.7% | 11.1% | 12.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iran, Islamic Republic of
More work & labour data for Iran, Islamic Republic of
- 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 female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Iran, Islamic Republic of was 12.1% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 recorded in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- The highest recorded value was 15.5% in 2005.
- What is the lowest female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 recorded in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.1% in 1986.
- How does Iran, Islamic Republic of rank for female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024?
- Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 169th out of 172 countries with data for 2024.
- Is female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 rising or falling in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran, Islamic Republic of data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 23 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are employed. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.