Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Pakistan
Pakistan: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 80.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Pakistan, 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 Pakistan is 80.1%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Pakistan peaked at 84.0% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 77.9%, in 2014.
Pakistan ranks 27th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 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+) in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 84.0% | — |
| 1991 | 82.4% | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 82.5% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 81.4% | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 81.2% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 81.5% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 82.2% | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 82.9% | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 82.3% | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 82.4% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 82.5% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 82.5% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 82.6% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 82.3% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 81.9% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 80.7% | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 79.5% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 79.3% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 78.9% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 78.7% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 78.7% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 78.1% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 78.5% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 78.9% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 77.9% | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 78.9% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 79.1% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 79.2% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 79.3% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 78.9% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 78.7% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 80.1% | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 79.9% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 80.1% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 80.1% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 80.1% | +0.1% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 80.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 70.3%, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 80.1% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 69.8%, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 82.3% | 81.2% | 84.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 80.9% | 78.7% | 82.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 78.7% | 77.9% | 79.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 79.8% | 78.7% | 80.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More work & labour data for Pakistan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1658 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.1724 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.4553 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.11 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 160,228 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 146,712 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 259,090 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 251,911 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 511,001 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Pakistan?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Pakistan was 80.1% 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+) recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 84.0% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 77.9% in 2014.
- How does Pakistan rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Pakistan ranks 27th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.