Labor force participation rate in Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan: Labor force participation rate was 42.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate in Turkmenistan, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate in Turkmenistan stood at 42.0%.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Turkmenistan peaked at 56.8% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 41.5%, in 2020.
Turkmenistan ranks 172nd 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 Turkmenistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 47.7% | — |
| 1991 | 48.5% | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 50.8% | +4.7% |
| 1993 | 50.9% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 53.9% | +6.0% |
| 1995 | 55.3% | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 54.6% | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 56.8% | +4.1% |
| 1998 | 56.0% | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 53.8% | -3.8% |
| 2000 | 53.3% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 53.0% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 53.3% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 53.1% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 52.6% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 51.2% | -2.8% |
| 2006 | 50.0% | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 49.0% | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 47.6% | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 47.2% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 46.6% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 45.5% | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 44.8% | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 44.3% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 43.8% | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 43.5% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 43.3% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 43.1% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 42.9% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 42.8% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 41.5% | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 41.7% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 42.2% | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 42.0% | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 42.2% | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 42.0% | -0.3% |
Turkmenistan compared with similar countries
- Turkmenistan's 42.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 60.5%, 69% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Turkmenistan's 42.0% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 60.2%, 70% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 52.8% | 47.7% | 56.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 51.0% | 47.2% | 53.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.1% | 42.8% | 46.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.9% | 41.5% | 42.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Turkmenistan
More work & labour data for Turkmenistan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.2917 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.2882 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.2951 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.3 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 5,433 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 2,454 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 5,034 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 4,913 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 9,947 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Turkmenistan?
- Labor force participation rate in Turkmenistan was 42.0% 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 Turkmenistan?
- The highest recorded value was 56.8% in 1997.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Turkmenistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.5% in 2020.
- How does Turkmenistan rank for labor force participation rate?
- Turkmenistan ranks 172nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Turkmenistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Turkmenistan 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
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).