Labor force participation rate in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Labor force participation rate was 37.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate in Afghanistan, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate in Afghanistan is 37.5%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 20.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Afghanistan peaked at 47.3% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 37.5%, in 2025.
Afghanistan ranks 181st of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 47.2% | — |
| 1991 | 47.1% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 47.1% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 47.0% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 47.0% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 46.9% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 46.8% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 46.7% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 46.7% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 46.6% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 46.6% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 46.5% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 46.5% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 46.5% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 46.5% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 46.5% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 46.6% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 46.6% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 46.7% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 46.7% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 46.8% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 46.9% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 47.0% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 47.0% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 47.1% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 47.2% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 47.2% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 47.3% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 45.6% | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 43.8% | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 41.6% | -5.1% |
| 2021 | 40.7% | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 37.6% | -7.5% |
| 2023 | 37.6% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 37.5% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 37.5% | -0.2% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 37.5% is below the median for low income countries, which is 67.0%, 56% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 37.5% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 45.0%, 83% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 46.9% | 46.6% | 47.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 46.6% | 46.5% | 46.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.6% | 43.8% | 47.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.7% | 37.5% | 41.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More work & labour data for Afghanistan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.4637 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4511 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4755 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.088 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.67 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 25,498 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 36,430 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 65,039 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 65,177 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 130,217 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Afghanistan?
- Labor force participation rate in Afghanistan was 37.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 47.3% in 2017.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.5% in 2025.
- How does Afghanistan rank for labor force participation rate?
- Afghanistan ranks 181st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).