Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Pakistan
Pakistan: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 55.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Pakistan, 1961–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Pakistan stood at 55.3%. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Pakistan peaked at 55.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 30.0%, in 1972.
Pakistan ranks 147th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 32.4% | — |
| 1972 | 30.0% | -7.4% |
| 1976 | 49.3% | +64.6% |
| 1977 | 49.3% | -0.0% |
| 1978 | 49.3% | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 49.3% | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 49.3% | -0.0% |
| 1981 | 51.2% | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 51.2% | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 49.7% | -2.9% |
| 1984 | 49.7% | -0.0% |
| 1985 | 49.5% | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 48.9% | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 49.3% | +0.9% |
| 1989 | 32.2% | -34.7% |
| 1990 | 49.3% | +53.2% |
| 1991 | 49.7% | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 49.7% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 49.2% | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 49.1% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 48.4% | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 50.1% | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 50.0% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 50.4% | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 50.5% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 50.7% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 46.6% | -8.2% |
| 2006 | 50.0% | +7.5% |
| 2007 | 50.0% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 50.1% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 50.5% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 51.0% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 50.8% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 48.6% | -4.2% |
| 2013 | 51.5% | +5.8% |
| 2014 | 51.0% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 52.0% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 48.9% | -6.0% |
| 2018 | 51.0% | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 51.6% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 46.6% | -9.6% |
| 2021 | 52.7% | +13.1% |
| 2025 | 55.3% | +5.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 32.4% | 32.4% | 32.4% | 1 |
| 1970s | 45.4% | 30.0% | 49.3% | 5 |
| 1980s | 47.9% | 32.2% | 51.2% | 9 |
| 1990s | 49.4% | 48.4% | 50.1% | 8 |
| 2000s | 49.9% | 46.6% | 50.7% | 8 |
| 2010s | 50.7% | 48.6% | 52.0% | 9 |
| 2020s | 51.6% | 46.6% | 55.3% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More work & labour data for Pakistan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1658 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.1724 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.4553 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.11 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 160,228 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 146,712 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 259,090 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 251,911 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 511,001 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Pakistan?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Pakistan was 55.3% in 2025, 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 55.3% in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.0% in 1972.
- How does Pakistan rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Pakistan ranks 147th out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this 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.