Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 was 23.3 in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
23.3
Change on year
up 41.2%
World rank
184th
of 194 countries
All-time high
43.79
in 2008
All-time low
6.83
in 1979
Years of data
7
1979–2021

Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in Afghanistan, 1979–2021

102030401979200020211979: 6.82008: 43.82012: 162014: 25.82017: 21.22020: 16.52021: 23.3

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

Afghanistan recorded 23.3 for female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in 2021.

That represents a change of up 41.2% on the previous year and up 45.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in Afghanistan peaked at 43.79 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 6.83, in 1979.

Afghanistan ranks 184th of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in Afghanistan, year by year

Annual values for Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in Afghanistan, 1979 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1979 6.83
2008 43.79 +541.1%
2012 16.02 -63.4%
2014 25.78 +61.0%
2017 21.17 -17.9%
2020 16.5 -22.1%
2021 23.3 +41.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 6.83 6.83 6.83 1
2000s 43.79 43.79 43.79 1
2010s 20.99 16.02 25.78 3
2020s 19.9 16.5 23.3 2

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

  1. 181 Nepal 27.91 compare
  2. 182 Tunisia 26.68 compare
  3. 183 Egypt 23.83 compare
  4. 185 Tajikistan 22.49 compare
  5. 186 Morocco 19.8 compare
  6. 187 Palestine, State of 18.22 compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More work & labour data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in Afghanistan?
Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in Afghanistan was 23.3 in 2021, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 recorded in Afghanistan?
The highest recorded value was 43.79 in 2008.
What is the lowest female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 recorded in Afghanistan?
The lowest recorded value was 6.83 in 1979.
How does Afghanistan rank for female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980?
Afghanistan ranks 184th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
Is female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 rising or falling in Afghanistan?
Over the last ten years it is up 45.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in Afghanistan. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/female-labor-force-participation-rates-latest-vs-1980/afghanistan/

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About this data

Indicator
Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
194 places, 4,756 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed