Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) … national in Iran

Iran: Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) … national was 23.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
23.2%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
171st
of 176 countries
All-time high
45.5%
in 1966
All-time low
22.1%
in 2021
Years of data
26
1966–2024

Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Iran, 1966–2024

010203040501966199520241966: 45.51972: 33.41976: 41.81986: 38.81991: 37.31996: 30.72005: 34.62006: 332007: 31.42008: 292009: 29.52010: 29.22011: 272012: 27.92013: 25.92014: 24.62015: 252016: 26.52017: 27.72018: 27.22019: 26.22020: 22.52021: 22.12022: 22.62023: 23.12024: 23.2

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

Analysis

Iran recorded 23.2% for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 5.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Iran peaked at 45.5% in 1966 and was at its lowest, 22.1%, in 2021.

That places Iran 171st out of 176 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) (national estimate) in Iran, 1966 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1966 45.5% —
1972 33.4% -26.5%
1976 41.8% +25.0%
1986 38.8% -7.0%
1991 37.3% -4.1%
1996 30.7% -17.6%
2005 34.6% +12.7%
2006 33.0% -4.6%
2007 31.4% -5.0%
2008 29.0% -7.5%
2009 29.5% +1.6%
2010 29.2% -1.1%
2011 27.0% -7.3%
2012 27.9% +3.1%
2013 25.9% -7.1%
2014 24.6% -5.1%
2015 25.0% +1.7%
2016 26.5% +6.0%
2017 27.7% +4.6%
2018 27.2% -1.8%
2019 26.2% -3.8%
2020 22.5% -13.8%
2021 22.1% -2.1%
2022 22.6% +2.7%
2023 23.1% +2.2%
2024 23.2% +0.1%

Iran compared with similar countries

  • Iran's 23.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 38.6%, 60% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
  • Iran's 23.2% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 32.8%, 71% of the median. (20 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 45.5% 45.5% 45.5% 1
1970s 37.6% 33.4% 41.8% 2
1980s 38.8% 38.8% 38.8% 1
1990s 34.0% 30.7% 37.3% 2
2000s 31.5% 29.0% 34.6% 5
2010s 26.7% 24.6% 29.2% 10
2020s 22.7% 22.1% 23.2% 5

Countries ranked near Iran

  1. 168 Romania 23.8% compare
  2. 169 Sri Lanka 23.7% compare
  3. 170 Tunisia 23.3% compare
  4. 172 Liberia 22.9% compare
  5. 173 Morocco 22.8% compare
  6. 174 Italy 22.6% compare

See the full ranking of 198 places →

More work & labour data for Iran

All data for Iran →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Iran?
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Iran was 23.2% in 2024, 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 Iran?
The highest recorded value was 45.5% in 1966.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in Iran?
The lowest recorded value was 22.1% in 2021.
How does Iran rank for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%)?
Iran ranks 171st out of 176 countries with data for 2024.
Is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) rising or falling in Iran?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Iran 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 Iran. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 25 October 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-for-ages-15-24-total-percent-national-estimate/iran-islamic-rep/

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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
198 places, 4,849 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.