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Labor force participation rate in Iraq

Iraq: Labor force participation rate was 41.5% in 2025. ▬ Flat

Latest (2025)
41.5%
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
173rd
of 186 countries
All-time high
43.1%
in 2016
All-time low
39.7%
in 2021
Years of data
36
1990–2025

Labor force participation rate in Iraq, 1990–2025

0102030401990200720251990: 42.5 %1991: 42.5 %1992: 42.4 %1993: 42.4 %1994: 42.4 %1995: 42.3 %1996: 42.3 %1997: 42.3 %1998: 42.2 %1999: 42.2 %2000: 42.1 %2001: 42 %2002: 42 %2003: 41.9 %2004: 41.9 %2005: 41.8 %2006: 41.8 %2007: 41.7 %2008: 41.6 %2009: 41.4 %2010: 41.3 %2011: 41.1 %2012: 41 %2013: 42 %2014: 42.9 %2015: 43 %2016: 43.1 %2017: 41.9 %2018: 41.2 %2019: 40.5 %2020: 40.3 %2021: 39.7 %2022: 41.5 %2023: 41.6 %2024: 41.6 %2025: 41.5 %

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 Iraq is 41.5%, measured in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 3.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Iraq peaked at 43.1% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 39.7%, in 2021.

That places Iraq 173rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 42.3% 42.2% 42.5% 10
2000s 41.8% 41.4% 42.1% 10
2010s 41.8% 40.5% 43.1% 10
2020s 41.0% 39.7% 41.6% 6

Countries ranked near Iraq

  1. 170 Puerto Rico 42.8% compare
  2. 171 Samoa 42.5% compare
  3. 172 Turkmenistan 42.0% compare
  4. 174 Iran 41.0% compare
  5. 175 Algeria 40.8% compare
  6. 176 Mauritania 40.8% compare

See the full ranking of 186 places →

More work & labour data for Iraq

All data for Iraq →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate in Iraq?
Labor force participation rate in Iraq was 41.5% 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 Iraq?
The highest recorded value was 43.1% in 2016.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Iraq?
The lowest recorded value was 39.7% in 2021.
How does Iraq rank for labor force participation rate?
Iraq ranks 173rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Iraq?
Over the last ten years it is down 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Iraq 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.

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate
Unit
%
Source
ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
186 places, 6,682 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed

Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).