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 49.0% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 2000–2021
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 stood at 49.0%.
That represents a change of up 5.4% on the previous year and up 2.5% 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 49.5% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 43.5%, in 2000.
That places Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 30th out of 33 groups with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 17 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 43.5% | — |
| 2005 | 48.0% | +10.2% |
| 2006 | 47.2% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 47.9% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 48.3% | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 47.1% | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 47.9% | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 47.8% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 46.8% | -2.0% |
| 2013 | 48.3% | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 47.1% | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 48.8% | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 48.3% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 49.4% | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 49.5% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 46.5% | -6.0% |
| 2021 | 49.0% | +5.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 47.0% | 43.5% | 48.3% | 6 |
| 2010s | 48.2% | 46.8% | 49.5% | 9 |
| 2020s | 47.7% | 46.5% | 49.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
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, total (% of total population ages 15+) 47.4% (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)
- 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)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 29.2% (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 49.0% 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?
- The highest recorded value was 49.5% in 2019.
- 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 43.5% in 2000.
- 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 30th 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?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 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.