Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Pakistan
Pakistan: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 81.5% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Pakistan, 1961–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Pakistan stood at 81.5%.
That represents a change of up 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Pakistan peaked at 87.2% in 1978 and was at its lowest, 52.0%, in 1972.
That places Pakistan 25th out of 196 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 55.0% | — |
| 1972 | 52.0% | -5.5% |
| 1976 | 87.1% | +67.7% |
| 1977 | 87.1% | -0.0% |
| 1978 | 87.2% | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 87.2% | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 87.2% | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 86.6% | -0.7% |
| 1982 | 86.6% | -0.0% |
| 1983 | 85.1% | -1.7% |
| 1984 | 85.1% | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 87.1% | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 85.4% | -2.0% |
| 1988 | 84.9% | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 52.1% | -38.6% |
| 1990 | 84.9% | +62.9% |
| 1991 | 83.5% | -1.6% |
| 1992 | 83.5% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 82.3% | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 82.6% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 82.3% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 83.1% | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 82.5% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 83.2% | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 82.7% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 82.7% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 76.6% | -7.4% |
| 2006 | 80.1% | +4.6% |
| 2007 | 79.9% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 79.4% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 79.0% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 78.8% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 78.6% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 77.3% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 79.2% | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 78.7% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 79.7% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 77.1% | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 80.3% | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 79.8% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 78.2% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 80.7% | +3.2% |
| 2025 | 81.5% | +1.0% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 81.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 71.7%, 1.1× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 81.5% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 71.2%, 1.1× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Pakistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | +67.7% | 52.0% | 87.1% |
| 1990 | +62.9% | 52.1% | 84.9% |
| 1989 | -38.6% | 84.9% | 52.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 55.0% | 55.0% | 55.0% | 1 |
| 1970s | 80.1% | 52.0% | 87.2% | 5 |
| 1980s | 82.2% | 52.1% | 87.2% | 9 |
| 1990s | 83.1% | 82.3% | 84.9% | 8 |
| 2000s | 80.4% | 76.6% | 83.2% | 8 |
| 2010s | 78.9% | 77.1% | 80.3% | 9 |
| 2020s | 80.1% | 78.2% | 81.5% | 3 |
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 81.5% in 2025, 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 87.2% in 1978.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 52.0% in 1972.
- How does Pakistan rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Pakistan ranks 25th out of 196 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 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Pakistan 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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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.