Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) was 39.2% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
39.2%
Change on year
up 15.5%
World rank
84th
of 175 countries
All-time high
54.9%
in 2008
All-time low
34.0%
in 2020
Years of data
7
1979–2021

Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Afghanistan, 1979–2021

02040601979200020211979: 48.32008: 54.92012: 38.82014: 48.52017: 39.32020: 342021: 39.2

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

In 2021, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Afghanistan stood at 39.2%.

The figure is up 15.5% on the previous year and up 1.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Afghanistan peaked at 54.9% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 34.0%, in 2020.

That places Afghanistan 84th out of 175 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.

Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Afghanistan, year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) (national estimate) in Afghanistan, 1979 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1979 48.3%
2008 54.9% +13.5%
2012 38.8% -29.3%
2014 48.5% +25.0%
2017 39.3% -19.0%
2020 34.0% -13.5%
2021 39.2% +15.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 48.3% 48.3% 48.3% 1
2000s 54.9% 54.9% 54.9% 1
2010s 42.2% 38.8% 48.5% 3
2020s 36.6% 34.0% 39.2% 2

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

  1. 81 French Polynesia 40.3% compare
  2. 82 Montenegro 40.1% compare
  3. 83 Mauritius 39.5% compare
  4. 85 Lebanon 39.2% compare
  5. 86 Zambia 38.9% compare
  6. 87 Albania 38.8% compare

See the full ranking of 197 places →

More work & labour data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Afghanistan?
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Afghanistan was 39.2% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in Afghanistan?
The highest recorded value was 54.9% in 2008.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in Afghanistan?
The lowest recorded value was 34.0% in 2020.
How does Afghanistan rank for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%)?
Afghanistan ranks 84th out of 175 countries with data for 2021.
Is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) rising or falling in Afghanistan?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Afghanistan. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-for-ages-15-24-total-percent-national-estimate/afghanistan/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
197 places, 4,769 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24 is the proportion of the population ages 15-24 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.