Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) was 71.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Afghanistan, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Afghanistan stood at 71.1%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Afghanistan peaked at 81.6% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 67.9%, in 2020.
Afghanistan ranks 145th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 81.6% | — |
| 1991 | 81.6% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 81.6% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 81.6% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 81.5% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 81.5% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 81.4% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 81.4% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 81.4% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 81.4% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 81.4% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 81.3% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 81.2% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 81.1% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 81.0% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 80.9% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 80.7% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 80.5% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 80.3% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 80.1% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 79.8% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 79.6% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 79.3% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 78.5% | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 77.5% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 76.6% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 75.6% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 74.7% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 72.6% | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 70.6% | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 67.9% | -3.9% |
| 2021 | 68.0% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 71.5% | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 71.4% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 71.3% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 71.1% | -0.3% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 71.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 76.8%, 93% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 71.1% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 74.1%, 96% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 81.5% | 81.4% | 81.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 80.9% | 80.1% | 81.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 76.5% | 70.6% | 79.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 70.2% | 67.9% | 71.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More work & labour data for Afghanistan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.4637 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4511 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4755 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.088 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.67 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 25,498 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 36,430 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 65,039 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 65,177 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 130,217 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Afghanistan?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Afghanistan was 71.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 81.6% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 67.9% in 2020.
- How does Afghanistan rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64)?
- Afghanistan ranks 145th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, male (% of male 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.