Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population) … 15+ in Iran
Iran: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population) … 15+ was 41.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iran, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iran stood at 41.0%.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iran peaked at 47.1% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 40.6%, in 2022.
Iran ranks 175th 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) … 15+ in Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 47.1% | — |
| 1991 | 46.8% | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 46.3% | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 45.8% | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 45.2% | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 44.6% | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 43.9% | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 43.9% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 44.0% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 44.0% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 44.1% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 44.3% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 44.6% | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 45.0% | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 45.5% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 46.1% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 45.3% | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 44.4% | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 42.3% | -4.9% |
| 2009 | 43.0% | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 42.3% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 40.6% | -4.0% |
| 2012 | 41.8% | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 41.1% | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 40.9% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 41.9% | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 43.2% | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 44.2% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 44.4% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 44.0% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 41.4% | -6.1% |
| 2021 | 41.0% | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 40.6% | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 41.5% | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 41.3% | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 41.0% | -0.7% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 41.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 60.5%, 68% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Iran's 41.0% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 45.0%, 91% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 45.2% | 43.9% | 47.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 44.5% | 42.3% | 46.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.4% | 40.6% | 44.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.1% | 40.6% | 41.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More work & labour data for Iran
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 44,188 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 40.34 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 29,874 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 8.53 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 2.43 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 57,320 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 20,416 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 36.89 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.89 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.574 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iran?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iran was 41.0% 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 15+) recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 47.1% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.6% in 2022.
- How does Iran rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Iran ranks 175th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iran 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+) (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 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.