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

Iraq: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 68.2% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
68.2%
World rank
119th
of 196 countries
All-time high
80.2%
in 1977
All-time low
68.2%
in 2021
Years of data
9
1977–2021

Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Iraq, 1977–2021

0204060801977199920211977: 80.21987: 75.31997: 77.32007: 72.32012: 71.42014: 72.62016: 72.12017: 72.42021: 68.2

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

Analysis

Iraq recorded 68.2% for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.

That represents a change of down 4.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Iraq peaked at 80.2% in 1977 and was at its lowest, 68.2%, in 2021.

That places Iraq 119th out of 196 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.

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

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Iraq, 1977 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1977 80.2%
1987 75.3% -6.2%
1997 77.3% +2.7%
2007 72.3% -6.5%
2012 71.4% -1.2%
2014 72.6% +1.7%
2016 72.1% -0.7%
2017 72.4% +0.5%
2021 68.2% -5.8%

Iraq compared with similar countries

  • Iraq's 68.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 71.3%, 96% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
  • Iraq's 68.2% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 71.2%, 96% of the median. (21 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 80.2% 80.2% 80.2% 1
1980s 75.3% 75.3% 75.3% 1
1990s 77.3% 77.3% 77.3% 1
2000s 72.3% 72.3% 72.3% 1
2010s 72.1% 71.4% 72.6% 4
2020s 68.2% 68.2% 68.2% 1

Countries ranked near Iraq

  1. 116 Zambia 69.2% compare
  2. 117 Sierra Leone 69.0% compare
  3. 118 Hungary 68.3% compare
  4. 120 Lithuania 68.1% compare
  5. 121 Liechtenstein 68.1% compare
  6. 122 Mauritius 67.9% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Iraq

All data for Iraq →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Iraq?
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Iraq was 68.2% 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 Iraq?
The highest recorded value was 80.2% in 1977.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Iraq?
The lowest recorded value was 68.2% in 2021.
How does Iraq rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
Iraq ranks 119th out of 196 countries with data for 2021.
Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Iraq?
Over the last ten years it is down 4.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Iraq 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 Iraq. 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/iraq/

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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.