Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 38.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Afghanistan, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 38.4% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 20.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Afghanistan peaked at 48.5% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 38.4%, in 2025.
Afghanistan ranks 182nd of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 48.3% | — |
| 1991 | 48.2% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 48.2% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 48.1% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 48.0% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 47.9% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 47.9% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 47.8% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 47.7% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 47.6% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 47.6% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 47.5% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 47.5% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 47.5% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 47.5% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 47.6% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 47.6% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 47.7% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 47.7% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 47.8% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 47.9% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 48.0% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 48.1% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 48.2% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 48.2% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 48.3% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 48.4% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 48.5% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 46.8% | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 45.0% | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 42.6% | -5.3% |
| 2021 | 41.8% | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 38.6% | -7.5% |
| 2023 | 38.6% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 38.5% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 38.4% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 48.0% | 47.6% | 48.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.6% | 47.5% | 47.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.7% | 45.0% | 48.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.8% | 38.4% | 42.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 179 Mauritania 41.9% compare
- 180 Tajikistan 40.4% compare
- 181 Syrian Arab Republic 38.9% compare
- 183 Sudan 37.9% compare
- 184 Somalia 34.8% compare
- 185 Yemen 34.0% compare
More work & labour data for Afghanistan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.4637 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4511 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4755 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.088 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.67 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 25,498 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 36,430 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 65,039 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 65,177 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 130,217 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Afghanistan?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Afghanistan was 38.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 48.5% in 2017.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.4% in 2025.
- How does Afghanistan rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- Afghanistan ranks 182nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-64) (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 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.