Female labor force participation rates in Iran

Iran: Female labor force participation rates was 14.01 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)
14.01
Change on year
down 0.9%
World rank
182nd
of 186 countries
All-time high
18.68
in 2005
All-time low
9.57
in 1990
Years of data
36
1990–2025

Female labor force participation rates in Iran, 1990–2025

051015201990200720251990: 9.61991: 9.81992: 9.91993: 101994: 10.21995: 10.41996: 10.61997: 11.31998: 12.11999: 12.92000: 13.72001: 14.62002: 15.52003: 16.52004: 17.62005: 18.72006: 182007: 172008: 14.82009: 15.72010: 15.12011: 13.62012: 14.92013: 13.32014: 132015: 14.42016: 16.22017: 17.42018: 17.32019: 16.82020: 13.72021: 13.12022: 13.52023: 14.12024: 14.12025: 14

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2025, female labor force participation rates in Iran stood at 14.01.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 2.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female labor force participation rates in Iran peaked at 18.68 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 9.57, in 1990.

That places Iran 182nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 10.67 9.57 12.85 10
2000s 16.2 13.69 18.68 10
2010s 15.2 12.99 17.36 10
2020s 13.76 13.09 14.14 6

Countries ranked near Iran

  1. 179 Jordan 16.03 compare
  2. 180 Sudan 14.45 compare
  3. 181 Algeria 14.14 compare
  4. 183 Syria 12.73 compare
  5. 184 Iraq 10.94 compare
  6. 185 Afghanistan 5.09 compare

See the full ranking of 186 places →

More work & labour data for Iran

All data for Iran →

Frequently asked questions

What is female labor force participation rates in Iran?
Female labor force participation rates in Iran was 14.01 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest female labor force participation rates recorded in Iran?
The highest recorded value was 18.68 in 2005.
What is the lowest female labor force participation rates recorded in Iran?
The lowest recorded value was 9.57 in 1990.
How does Iran rank for female labor force participation rates?
Iran ranks 182nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
Is female labor force participation rates rising or falling in Iran?
Over the last ten years it is down 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Iran data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Female labor force participation rates
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
186 places, 6,682 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed