Population by labor force status in Iran
Iran: Population by labor force status was 20.35 million people in 2025. ▼ Falling
Population by labor force status in Iran, 1991–2025
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2025, population by labor force status in Iran stood at 20.35 million people.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 4.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by labor force status in Iran peaked at 26.76 million people in 1993 and was at its lowest, 18.09 million people, in 2009.
That places Iran 19th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25.58 million people | 23.18 million people | 26.76 million people | 9 |
| 2000s | 19.52 million people | 18.09 million people | 22.29 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.39 million people | 18.15 million people | 20.82 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.68 million people | 20.35 million people | 20.86 million people | 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 population by labor force status in Iran?
- Population by labor force status in Iran was 20.35 million people in 2025, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by labor force status recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 26.76 million people in 1993.
- What is the lowest population by labor force status recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.09 million people in 2009.
- How does Iran rank for population by labor force status?
- Iran ranks 19th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population by labor force status rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by labor force status. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population below working age (under 15 years old).