Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 19.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 19.7%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan peaked at 21.2% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 15.4%, in 1990.
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 44th of 47 groups 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 15.4% | — |
| 1991 | 16.3% | +5.4% |
| 1992 | 16.5% | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 16.6% | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 16.9% | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 16.3% | -4.1% |
| 1996 | 16.5% | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 16.9% | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 17.0% | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 17.6% | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 17.8% | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 17.9% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 17.7% | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 18.2% | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 18.7% | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 19.1% | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 19.4% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 19.7% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 19.3% | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 19.9% | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 20.2% | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 20.1% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 20.3% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 20.3% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 20.5% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 21.1% | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 21.2% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 20.8% | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 20.0% | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 20.0% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 19.3% | -3.9% |
| 2021 | 19.6% | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 19.2% | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 19.8% | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 19.7% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 19.7% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.6% | 15.4% | 17.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.8% | 17.7% | 19.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.5% | 20.0% | 21.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.6% | 19.2% | 19.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
More work & labour data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 29.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 47.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 14.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 50.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 32.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 73.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 50.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 21.2% (2025)
- Wage and salaried workers, total (% of total employment) 61.0% (2025)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan →
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan was 19.7% 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 21.2% in 2016.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.4% in 1990.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 44th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 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.