Labor force participation rate by age in Iraq
Iraq: Labor force participation rate by age was 27.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in Iraq, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Iraq recorded 27.1% for labor force participation rate by age in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.8% on the previous year and down 12.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Iraq peaked at 36.8% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 26.3%, in 2019.
That places Iraq 156th out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 | 36.2% | 35.1% | 36.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.6% | 30.8% | 34.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.2% | 26.3% | 31.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.0% | 26.6% | 27.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More work & labour data for Iraq
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 11.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 41.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 5.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 47.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 72.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 43.4% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 15.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in Iraq?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Iraq was 27.1% 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 36.8% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.3% in 2019.
- How does Iraq rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Iraq ranks 156th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iraq 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).