Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iran, Islamic Republic of

Iran, Islamic Republic of: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 40.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
40.7%
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
191st
of 199 countries
All-time high
50.4%
in 1966
All-time low
40.0%
in 2011
Years of data
26
1966–2024

Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iran, Islamic Republic of, 1966–2024

02040601966199520241966: 50.41972: 48.11976: 491986: 45.81991: 46.11996: 43.12005: 45.42006: 44.62007: 43.72008: 41.42009: 42.42010: 41.62011: 402012: 40.62013: 40.52014: 40.22015: 41.42016: 42.62017: 43.72018: 442019: 43.72020: 40.92021: 40.62022: 40.52023: 40.92024: 40.7

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, Islamic Republic of 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, Islamic Republic of peaked at 50.4% in 1966 and was at its lowest, 40.0%, in 2011.

Iran, Islamic Republic of 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 population ages 15+) in Iran, Islamic Republic of, year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Iran, Islamic Republic of, 1966 to 2024.
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%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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, Islamic Republic of

  1. 188 Syrian Arab Republic 43.4% compare
  2. 189 Algeria 41.8% compare
  3. 190 Jordan 40.8% compare
  4. 192 Nepal 39.9% compare
  5. 193 Tajikistan 39.7% compare
  6. 194 Iraq 39.7% compare

See the full ranking of 232 places →

More work & labour data for Iran, Islamic Republic of

All data for Iran, Islamic Republic of →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iran, Islamic Republic of 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, Islamic Republic of?
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, Islamic Republic of?
The lowest recorded value was 40.0% in 2011.
How does Iran, Islamic Republic of rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
Iran, Islamic Republic of 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, Islamic Republic of?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Iran, Islamic Republic of 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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Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iran, Islamic Republic of. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-total-percent-of-total-population-ages-15-national-estimate/iran-islamic-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
232 places, 5,713 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

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.