Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income): Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 47.6% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income), 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) is 47.6%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) peaked at 49.1% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 46.6%, in 2020.
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) ranks 46th of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 49.0% | — |
| 1991 | 49.1% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 49.1% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 49.0% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 49.0% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 48.5% | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 48.5% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 48.7% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 48.5% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 48.9% | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 48.8% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 48.5% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 48.2% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 48.4% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 48.7% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 48.8% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 48.7% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 48.7% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 48.3% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 48.6% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 48.9% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 48.5% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 48.5% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 48.5% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 48.3% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 48.4% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 48.4% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 48.2% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 47.7% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 47.8% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 46.6% | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 47.2% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 47.3% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 47.7% | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 47.7% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 47.6% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 48.8% | 48.5% | 49.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.6% | 48.2% | 48.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.3% | 47.7% | 48.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.3% | 46.6% | 47.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)
- 43 Ireland 77.2% compare
- 44 Peru 77.0% compare
- 45 Albania 77.0% compare
- 46 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 77.0% compare
- 47 Singapore 77.0% compare
- 48 Kazakhstan 77.0% compare
- 49 United Kingdom 76.7% compare
More work & labour data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 19.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 13.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 50.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 32.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 44.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 75.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 71.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 17.7% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 25.1% (2025)
- Wage and salaried workers, total (% of total employment) 54.6% (2025)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) was 47.6% 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 49.1% in 1992.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.6% in 2020.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) ranks 46th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) 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.