Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) was 37.27 in 2027. ▼ Falling
Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Afghanistan, 1990–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Afghanistan is 37.27, measured in 2027. That is the lowest value across all 38 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 21.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Afghanistan peaked at 47.3 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 37.27, in 2027.
That places Afghanistan 183rd out of 188 countries with data for 2027, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 38 years of available data.
Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 47.19 | — |
| 1991 | 47.14 | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 47.09 | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 47.02 | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 46.95 | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 46.88 | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 46.8 | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 46.73 | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 46.67 | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 46.61 | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 46.56 | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 46.53 | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 46.51 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 46.5 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 46.51 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 46.53 | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 46.57 | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 46.62 | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 46.68 | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 46.75 | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 46.81 | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 46.88 | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 46.96 | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 47.03 | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 47.1 | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 47.16 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 47.23 | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 47.3 | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 45.57 | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 43.81 | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 41.58 | -5.1% |
| 2021 | 40.68 | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 37.64 | -7.5% |
| 2023 | 37.59 | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 37.55 | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 37.46 | -0.2% |
| 2026 | 37.38 | -0.2% |
| 2027 | 37.27 | -0.3% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 37.27 is below the median for low income countries, which is 66.81, 56% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 37.27 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 44.67, 83% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 46.91 | 46.61 | 47.19 | 10 |
| 2000s | 46.57 | 46.5 | 46.75 | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.59 | 43.81 | 47.3 | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.39 | 37.27 | 41.58 | 8 |
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 labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Afghanistan?
- Labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Afghanistan was 37.27 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 47.3 in 2017.
- What is the lowest labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.27 in 2027.
- How does Afghanistan rank for labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
- Afghanistan ranks 183rd out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
- Is labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 38 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The labour force participation rate is the labour force as a percent of the working-age population. The labour force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.