Labor force participation rate by age in Iran
Iran: Labor force participation rate by age was 22.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in Iran, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Iran recorded 22.7% for labor force participation rate by age in 2024.
That represents a change of down 1.0% on the previous year and down 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Iran peaked at 38.0% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 21.8%, in 2021.
Iran ranks 179th of 188 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 34.0% | 31.3% | 38.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.5% | 29.0% | 34.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.6% | 24.7% | 29.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.4% | 21.8% | 22.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iran
- 176 Tunisia 23.2% compare
- 177 Yemen 23.2% compare
- 178 Comoros 22.9% compare
- 180 Puerto Rico 21.7% compare
- 181 Sao Tome and Principe 21.3% compare
- 182 Mauritania 20.1% compare
More work & labour data for Iran
- Women can take the same jobs as men 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 15.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 73.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 45.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 22.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 14.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 67.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 9.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in Iran?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Iran was 22.7% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 38.0% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.8% in 2021.
- How does Iran rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Iran ranks 179th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).