Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD): Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 47.1% in 2021. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD), 1991–2021
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2021, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) stood at 47.1%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.6% on the previous year and up 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) peaked at 47.5% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 42.8%, in 2000.
That places Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 32nd out of 33 groups with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 47.0% | — |
| 2000 | 42.8% | -9.0% |
| 2005 | 47.2% | +10.1% |
| 2006 | 46.5% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 47.3% | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 47.3% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 45.9% | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 47.2% | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 46.8% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 46.0% | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 47.5% | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 46.3% | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 47.5% | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 46.2% | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 47.2% | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 43.8% | -7.3% |
| 2021 | 47.1% | +7.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.0% | 47.0% | 47.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 46.2% | 42.8% | 47.3% | 6 |
| 2010s | 46.8% | 46.0% | 47.5% | 8 |
| 2020s | 45.4% | 43.8% | 47.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
More work & labour data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 32.2% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 25.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 17.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 47.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 75.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 19.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 71.7% (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, total (% of total population ages 15+) 44.9% (2025)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) was 47.1% in 2021, 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- The highest recorded value was 47.5% in 2015.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.8% in 2000.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) ranks 32nd out of 33 groups with data for 2021.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 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.