Labor force participation rate in Iran
Iran: Labor force participation rate was 41.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate in Iran, 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 Iran is 41.0%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Iran peaked at 47.1% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 40.6%, in 2022.
That places Iran 174th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 45.2% | 43.9% | 47.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 44.5% | 42.3% | 46.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.4% | 40.6% | 44.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.1% | 40.6% | 41.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More work & labour data for Iran
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 41.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 67.2% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 20.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 14.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 45.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 73.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 15.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Iran?
- Labor force participation rate in Iran was 41.0% 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 47.1% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.6% in 2022.
- How does Iran rank for labor force participation rate?
- Iran ranks 174th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iran 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).