Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 47.4% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan stood at 47.4%.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan peaked at 48.4% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 46.4%, in 2020.
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 44th of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 48.3% | — |
| 1991 | 48.3% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 48.4% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 48.3% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 48.3% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 47.8% | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 47.8% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 48.0% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 47.8% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 48.1% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 48.0% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 47.7% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 47.3% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 47.5% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 47.7% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 47.8% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 47.8% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 47.8% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 47.5% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 47.8% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 48.1% | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 47.8% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 48.0% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 48.1% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 48.0% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 48.3% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 48.4% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 48.0% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 47.6% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 47.5% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 46.4% | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 46.8% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 47.0% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 47.5% | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 47.5% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 47.4% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 48.1% | 47.8% | 48.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.7% | 47.3% | 48.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.0% | 47.5% | 48.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.1% | 46.4% | 47.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- 41 Zimbabwe 67.7% compare
- 42 Kenya 67.4% compare
- 43 Netherlands 67.2% compare
- 44 Cote d'Ivoire 67.1% compare
- 45 Mali 67.0% compare
- 46 East Timor 67.0% compare
- 47 Cyprus 67.0% compare
More work & labour data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 19.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 73.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 14.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 50.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 32.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 29.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 50.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 21.2% (2025)
- Wage and salaried workers, total (% of total employment) 61.0% (2025)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan →
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan was 47.4% 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 15+) recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 48.4% in 2016.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.4% in 2020.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 44th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 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.