Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Iraq
Iraq: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) was 75.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Iraq, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Iraq is 75.0%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Iraq peaked at 80.8% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 71.6%, in 2021.
That places Iraq 117th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Iraq, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 80.8% | — |
| 1991 | 80.7% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 80.5% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 80.3% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 80.1% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 79.9% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 79.7% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 79.5% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 79.0% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 78.6% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 78.2% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 77.7% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 77.2% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 76.8% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 76.3% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 75.9% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 75.5% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 75.0% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 74.8% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 74.5% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 74.1% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 73.8% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 73.5% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 74.5% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 75.5% | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 75.0% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 74.6% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 75.6% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 74.2% | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 72.6% | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 72.9% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 71.6% | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 74.8% | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 75.3% | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 75.0% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 75.0% | -0.0% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 75.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 78.6%, 95% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 75.0% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 74.1%, 1.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 79.9% | 78.6% | 80.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 76.2% | 74.5% | 78.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 74.3% | 72.6% | 75.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 74.1% | 71.6% | 75.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 114 Palestine, State of 75.3% compare
- 115 Côte d'Ivoire 75.3% compare
- 116 Zimbabwe 75.0% compare
- 118 Belize 74.9% compare
- 119 Kyrgyzstan 74.8% compare
- 120 Belgium 74.8% 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, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Iraq?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Iraq was 75.0% 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 80.8% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 71.6% in 2021.
- How does Iraq rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64)?
- Iraq ranks 117th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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, 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.