Female share of the labor force in Iran
Iran: Female share of the labor force was 16.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female share of the labor force in Iran, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, female share of the labor force in Iran stood at 16.9%.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female share of the labor force in Iran peaked at 19.9% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 9.8%, in 1990.
Iran ranks 182nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Female share of the labor force in Iran, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 9.8% | — |
| 1991 | 10.1% | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 10.4% | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 10.7% | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 11.0% | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 11.4% | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 11.8% | +3.6% |
| 1997 | 12.6% | +6.9% |
| 1998 | 13.4% | +6.8% |
| 1999 | 14.3% | +6.6% |
| 2000 | 15.3% | +6.4% |
| 2001 | 16.2% | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 17.2% | +5.9% |
| 2003 | 18.1% | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 19.0% | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 19.9% | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 19.5% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 18.7% | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 17.1% | -8.6% |
| 2009 | 17.9% | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 17.6% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 16.4% | -6.4% |
| 2012 | 17.5% | +6.6% |
| 2013 | 15.9% | -9.0% |
| 2014 | 15.6% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 16.8% | +7.8% |
| 2016 | 18.4% | +9.5% |
| 2017 | 19.3% | +4.8% |
| 2018 | 19.2% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 18.8% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 16.3% | -13.1% |
| 2021 | 15.7% | -3.9% |
| 2022 | 16.4% | +4.2% |
| 2023 | 16.8% | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 16.9% | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 16.9% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.6% | 9.8% | 14.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.9% | 15.3% | 19.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.6% | 15.6% | 19.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.5% | 15.7% | 16.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More work & labour data for Iran
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 44,188 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 40.34 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 29,874 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 36.89 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.89 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.574 % change on previous year (2027)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female share of the labor force in Iran?
- Female share of the labor force in Iran was 16.9% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female share of the labor force recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 19.9% in 2005.
- What is the lowest female share of the labor force recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.8% in 1990.
- How does Iran rank for female share of the labor force?
- Iran ranks 182nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female share of the labor force rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female share of the labor force. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the working-age population economically active (employed or unemployed) who are female.