Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Iraq
Iraq: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 10.9% 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
In 2025, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Iraq stood at 10.9%.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 22.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Iraq peaked at 14.7% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 8.5%, 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 | 8.5% | — |
| 1991 | 8.6% | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 8.7% | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 8.7% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 8.7% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 8.8% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 8.8% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 8.8% | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 9.1% | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 9.5% | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 9.8% | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 10.1% | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 10.4% | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 10.8% | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 11.1% | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 11.5% | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 11.9% | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 12.3% | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 12.2% | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 12.1% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 12.0% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 12.0% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 11.9% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 12.8% | +7.5% |
| 2014 | 13.7% | +7.4% |
| 2015 | 14.2% | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 14.7% | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 11.3% | -22.6% |
| 2018 | 11.4% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 11.6% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 10.9% | -6.0% |
| 2021 | 10.9% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 11.2% | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 10.9% | -2.4% |
| 2024 | 11.0% | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 10.9% | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.8% | 8.5% | 9.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.2% | 9.8% | 12.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.6% | 11.3% | 14.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.0% | 10.9% | 11.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 182 Algeria 14.1% compare
- 183 Iran, Islamic Republic of 14.0% compare
- 184 Syrian Arab Republic 12.7% compare
- 186 Afghanistan 5.1% compare
- 187 Yemen 4.7% 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 10.9% 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 14.7% in 2016.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.5% 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 22.9%. 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+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The labor force participation rate is the labor force as a percent of the population ages 15 and older. The labor force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed.