Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 77.0% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
77.0%
Change on year
up 15.1%
World rank
45th
of 196 countries
All-time high
96.8%
in 1979
All-time low
66.8%
in 2020
Years of data
7
1979–2021

Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Afghanistan, 1979–2021

0204060801001979200020211979: 96.82008: 822012: 772014: 77.12017: 73.22020: 66.82021: 77

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

Afghanistan recorded 77.0% for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 15.1% on the previous year and down 0.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Afghanistan peaked at 96.8% in 1979 and was at its lowest, 66.8%, in 2020.

That places Afghanistan 45th out of 196 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.

Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Afghanistan, year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Afghanistan, 1979 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1979 96.8%
2008 82.0% -15.2%
2012 77.0% -6.1%
2014 77.1% +0.0%
2017 73.2% -5.1%
2020 66.8% -8.6%
2021 77.0% +15.1%

Afghanistan compared with similar countries

  • Afghanistan's 77.0% is above the median for low income countries, which is 75.6%, 1.0× the median. (19 countries reporting)
  • Afghanistan's 77.0% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 71.2%, 1.1× the median. (21 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 96.8% 96.8% 96.8% 1
2000s 82.0% 82.0% 82.0% 1
2010s 75.8% 73.2% 77.1% 3
2020s 71.9% 66.8% 77.0% 2

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

  1. 42 India 77.1% compare
  2. 43 Ecuador 77.1% compare
  3. 44 Viet Nam 77.0% compare
  4. 46 Antigua and Barbuda 76.9% compare
  5. 47 Colombia 76.6% compare
  6. 48 El Salvador 76.4% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

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 77.0% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 96.8% in 1979.
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 45th out of 196 countries with data for 2021.
Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Afghanistan?
Over the last ten years it is down 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Afghanistan. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-male-percent-of-male-population-ages-15-national-estimate/afghanistan/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
220 places, 5,453 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

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.