Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Iran
Iran: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 was 14.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Iran, 1966–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Iran recorded 14.1% for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and up 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Iran peaked at 18.8% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 9.0%, in 1986.
Iran ranks 192nd of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Iran, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 12.2% | — |
| 1972 | 9.8% | -19.3% |
| 1976 | 13.4% | +36.9% |
| 1986 | 9.0% | -33.3% |
| 1991 | 9.9% | +10.8% |
| 1996 | 10.6% | +7.3% |
| 2005 | 18.8% | +76.6% |
| 2006 | 18.1% | -3.5% |
| 2007 | 17.1% | -5.8% |
| 2008 | 14.8% | -13.1% |
| 2009 | 15.8% | +6.4% |
| 2010 | 15.3% | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 13.7% | -9.9% |
| 2012 | 14.9% | +8.2% |
| 2013 | 13.4% | -9.8% |
| 2014 | 13.1% | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 14.4% | +10.4% |
| 2016 | 16.3% | +12.8% |
| 2017 | 17.4% | +7.0% |
| 2018 | 17.5% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 17.0% | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 13.9% | -18.3% |
| 2021 | 13.2% | -4.5% |
| 2022 | 13.6% | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 14.2% | +4.7% |
| 2024 | 14.1% | -0.7% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 14.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 52.2%, 27% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Iran's 14.1% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 26.7%, 53% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Iran changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +76.6% | 10.6% | 18.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 12.2% | 12.2% | 12.2% | 1 |
| 1970s | 11.6% | 9.8% | 13.4% | 2 |
| 1980s | 9.0% | 9.0% | 9.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 10.3% | 9.9% | 10.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 16.9% | 14.8% | 18.8% | 5 |
| 2010s | 15.3% | 13.1% | 17.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.8% | 13.2% | 14.2% | 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 female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Iran?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Iran was 14.1% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 18.8% in 2005.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.0% in 1986.
- How does Iran rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025?
- Iran ranks 192nd out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran 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 labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.