Labor force participation rate, total (% of total) … national 15+ in Iran
Iran: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total) … national 15+ was 40.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iran, 1966–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2024, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iran stood at 40.7%.
That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and up 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iran peaked at 50.4% in 1966 and was at its lowest, 40.0%, in 2011.
Iran ranks 191st of 199 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total) … national 15+ in Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 50.4% | — |
| 1972 | 48.1% | -4.5% |
| 1976 | 49.0% | +1.9% |
| 1986 | 45.8% | -6.5% |
| 1991 | 46.1% | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 43.1% | -6.5% |
| 2005 | 45.4% | +5.4% |
| 2006 | 44.6% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 43.7% | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 41.4% | -5.1% |
| 2009 | 42.4% | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 41.6% | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 40.0% | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 40.6% | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 40.5% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 40.2% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 41.4% | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 42.6% | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 43.7% | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 44.0% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 43.7% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 40.9% | -6.3% |
| 2021 | 40.6% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 40.5% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 40.9% | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 40.7% | -0.6% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 40.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 62.4%, 65% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Iran's 40.7% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 48.9%, 83% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 50.4% | 50.4% | 50.4% | 1 |
| 1970s | 48.5% | 48.1% | 49.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 45.8% | 45.8% | 45.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 44.6% | 43.1% | 46.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 43.5% | 41.4% | 45.4% | 5 |
| 2010s | 41.8% | 40.0% | 44.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.7% | 40.5% | 40.9% | 5 |
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 40.7% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 50.4% in 1966.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.0% in 2011.
- How does Iran rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Iran ranks 191st out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, total (% of total 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.