Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Iraq
Iraq: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 11.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Iraq, 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 Iraq is 11.5%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 22.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Iraq peaked at 15.4% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 9.0%, in 1990.
That places Iraq 185th out of 187 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.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Iraq, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 9.0% | — |
| 1991 | 9.0% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 9.1% | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 9.2% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 9.2% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 9.2% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 9.2% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 9.3% | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 9.6% | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 9.9% | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 10.3% | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 10.6% | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 10.9% | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 11.3% | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 11.7% | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 12.1% | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 12.5% | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 12.9% | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 12.8% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 12.7% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 12.6% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 12.6% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 12.5% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 13.4% | +7.4% |
| 2014 | 14.4% | +7.3% |
| 2015 | 14.9% | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 15.4% | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 11.9% | -22.8% |
| 2018 | 12.0% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 12.2% | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 11.5% | -5.8% |
| 2021 | 11.5% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 11.8% | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 11.5% | -2.4% |
| 2024 | 11.6% | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 11.5% | -0.6% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 11.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 55.9%, 21% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 11.5% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 25.4%, 45% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.3% | 9.0% | 9.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.8% | 10.3% | 12.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.2% | 11.9% | 15.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.6% | 11.5% | 11.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 182 Iran, Islamic Republic of 15.6% compare
- 183 Sudan 14.6% compare
- 184 Syrian Arab Republic 13.6% compare
- 186 Afghanistan 5.3% compare
- 187 Yemen 4.8% compare
More work & labour data for Iraq
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1891 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1939 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.1833 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2038 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.31 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 65,560 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 15,931 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 50,009 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 50,640 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 100,649 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Iraq?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Iraq was 11.5% 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 15.4% in 2016.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.0% in 1990.
- How does Iraq rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Iraq ranks 185th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iraq 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.