Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population) … male 15+ in Iran
Iran: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population) … male 15+ was 67.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Iran, 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 Iran is 67.2%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Iran peaked at 82.5% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 66.7%, in 2011.
Iran ranks 120th 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) … male 15+ in Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 82.5% | — |
| 1991 | 81.7% | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 80.7% | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 79.6% | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 78.4% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 77.1% | -1.7% |
| 1996 | 75.7% | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 75.2% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 74.6% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 74.1% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 73.6% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 73.2% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 72.9% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 72.6% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 72.5% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 72.5% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 71.4% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 70.6% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 68.6% | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 69.3% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 68.5% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 66.7% | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 67.8% | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 68.0% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 67.9% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 68.6% | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 69.3% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 70.3% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 70.6% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 70.4% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 68.2% | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 68.2% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 66.9% | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 68.2% | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 67.7% | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 67.2% | -0.7% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 67.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 71.6%, 94% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Iran's 67.2% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 69.8%, 96% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 78.0% | 74.1% | 82.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 71.7% | 68.6% | 73.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.8% | 66.7% | 70.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 67.7% | 66.9% | 68.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran
- 117 Hungary 67.5% compare
- 118 Malawi 67.3% compare
- 119 Equatorial Guinea 67.2% compare
- 121 United States 67.1% compare
- 122 Lesotho 66.9% compare
- 123 Democratic Republic of Congo 66.8% compare
More work & labour data for Iran
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 44,188 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 40.34 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 29,874 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 8.53 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 2.43 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 57,320 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 20,416 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 36.89 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.89 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.574 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Iran?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Iran was 67.2% 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 82.5% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.7% in 2011.
- How does Iran rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Iran ranks 120th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iran 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.