Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Iran, Islamic Republic of
Iran, Islamic Republic of: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 15.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Iran, Islamic Republic of, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Iran, Islamic Republic of is 15.6%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Iran, Islamic Republic of peaked at 19.8% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 10.0%, in 1990.
Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 182nd of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Iran, Islamic Republic of, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 10.0% | — |
| 1991 | 10.2% | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 10.4% | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 10.5% | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 10.7% | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 11.0% | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 11.2% | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 11.9% | +6.8% |
| 1998 | 12.7% | +6.7% |
| 1999 | 13.6% | +6.6% |
| 2000 | 14.5% | +6.5% |
| 2001 | 15.4% | +6.5% |
| 2002 | 16.4% | +6.4% |
| 2003 | 17.4% | +6.4% |
| 2004 | 18.6% | +6.5% |
| 2005 | 19.8% | +6.4% |
| 2006 | 19.1% | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 18.0% | -5.6% |
| 2008 | 15.7% | -13.0% |
| 2009 | 16.5% | +5.5% |
| 2010 | 16.1% | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 14.5% | -9.9% |
| 2012 | 15.9% | +9.8% |
| 2013 | 14.3% | -10.2% |
| 2014 | 14.0% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 15.5% | +10.9% |
| 2016 | 17.5% | +12.9% |
| 2017 | 18.8% | +7.7% |
| 2018 | 18.9% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 18.3% | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 15.0% | -18.1% |
| 2021 | 14.4% | -4.2% |
| 2022 | 14.9% | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 15.7% | +5.4% |
| 2024 | 15.7% | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 15.6% | -0.5% |
Iran, Islamic Republic of compared with similar countries
- Iran, Islamic Republic of's 15.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 55.9%, 28% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Iran, Islamic Republic of's 15.6% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 25.4%, 62% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.2% | 10.0% | 13.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.1% | 14.5% | 19.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.4% | 14.0% | 18.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.2% | 14.4% | 15.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran, Islamic Republic of
More work & labour data for Iran, Islamic Republic of
- 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 labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Iran, Islamic Republic of was 15.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- The highest recorded value was 19.8% in 2005.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.0% in 1990.
- How does Iran, Islamic Republic of rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 182nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran, Islamic Republic of data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.