Labour force: ICLS13) (15+) … previous ICLS13 15+ in Pakistan
Pakistan: Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 55.34 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Pakistan, 1961–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Pakistan stood at 55.34. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
The figure is up 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Pakistan peaked at 55.34 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 29.96, in 1972.
That places Pakistan 155th out of 210 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 32.36 | — |
| 1972 | 29.96 | -7.4% |
| 1976 | 49.3 | +64.6% |
| 1977 | 49.3 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | 49.3 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 49.3 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 49.3 | -0.0% |
| 1981 | 51.19 | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 51.2 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 49.72 | -2.9% |
| 1984 | 49.71 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | 49.45 | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 48.89 | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 49.34 | +0.9% |
| 1989 | 32.2 | -34.7% |
| 1990 | 49.34 | +53.2% |
| 1991 | 49.69 | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 49.68 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 49.2 | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 49.15 | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 48.36 | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 50.12 | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 49.95 | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 50.41 | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 50.45 | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 50.73 | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 46.56 | -8.2% |
| 2006 | 50.03 | +7.5% |
| 2007 | 50.05 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 50.08 | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 50.53 | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 51 | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 50.77 | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 48.63 | -4.2% |
| 2013 | 51.45 | +5.8% |
| 2014 | 51 | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 52.03 | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 48.93 | -6.0% |
| 2018 | 50.99 | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 51.6 | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 46.64 | -9.6% |
| 2021 | 52.73 | +13.1% |
| 2025 | 55.34 | +5.0% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 55.34 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 58.52, 95% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 55.34 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 48.89, 1.1× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Pakistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | +64.6% | 29.96 | 49.3 |
| 1990 | +53.2% | 32.2 | 49.34 |
| 1989 | -34.7% | 49.34 | 32.2 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 32.36 | 32.36 | 32.36 | 1 |
| 1970s | 45.43 | 29.96 | 49.3 | 5 |
| 1980s | 47.89 | 32.2 | 51.2 | 9 |
| 1990s | 49.44 | 48.36 | 50.12 | 8 |
| 2000s | 49.86 | 46.56 | 50.73 | 8 |
| 2010s | 50.71 | 48.63 | 52.03 | 9 |
| 2020s | 51.57 | 46.64 | 55.34 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More work & labour data for Pakistan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1658 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.1724 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.4553 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.11 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 160,228 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 146,712 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 259,090 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 251,911 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 511,001 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Pakistan?
- Labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Pakistan was 55.34 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 55.34 in 2025.
- What is the lowest labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.96 in 1972.
- How does Pakistan rank for labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- Pakistan ranks 155th out of 210 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Pakistan data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. 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 Labour Force Statistics (LFS and STLFS) database description.