Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 69.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Afghanistan, 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+) in Afghanistan is 69.8%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 7.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Afghanistan peaked at 80.0% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 66.8%, in 2020.
Afghanistan ranks 95th of 187 countries on this measure, 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+) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 80.0% | — |
| 1991 | 80.0% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 80.0% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 80.0% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 80.0% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 79.9% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 79.9% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 79.9% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 79.9% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 80.0% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 79.9% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 79.9% | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 79.8% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 79.7% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 79.6% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 79.5% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 79.3% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 79.2% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 79.0% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 78.7% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 78.5% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 78.2% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 78.0% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 77.1% | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 76.2% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 75.3% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 74.4% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 73.4% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 71.4% | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 69.4% | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 66.8% | -3.8% |
| 2021 | 66.8% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 70.2% | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 70.1% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 70.0% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 69.8% | -0.3% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 69.8% is below the median for low income countries, which is 76.1%, 92% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 69.8% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 69.8%, 1.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 80.0% | 79.9% | 80.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 79.5% | 78.7% | 79.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 75.2% | 69.4% | 78.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 68.9% | 66.8% | 70.2% | 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+) in Afghanistan?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Afghanistan was 69.8% 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+) recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 80.0% in 1992.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.8% in 2020.
- How does Afghanistan rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Afghanistan ranks 95th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.4%. 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+) (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 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.