Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Public sector employment as a share of total employment was 8.7% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Afghanistan, 2003–2019
Source: World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2019, public sector employment as a share of total employment in Afghanistan stood at 8.7%.
That represents a change of up 47.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public sector employment as a share of total employment in Afghanistan peaked at 11.4% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 5.9%, in 2007.
That places Afghanistan 63rd out of 79 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 8.9% | — |
| 2007 | 5.9% | -32.9% |
| 2011 | 11.0% | +84.3% |
| 2013 | 11.4% | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 8.7% | -23.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.4% | 5.9% | 8.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 10.4% | 8.7% | 11.4% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 60 Philippines 9.1% compare
- 61 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 8.9% compare
- 62 Zambia 8.8% compare
- 64 Morocco 8.6% compare
- 65 El Salvador 8.5% compare
- 66 Pakistan 8.1% compare
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 public sector employment as a share of total employment in Afghanistan?
- Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Afghanistan was 8.7% in 2019, according to World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 11.4% in 2013.
- What is the lowest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.9% in 2007.
- How does Afghanistan rank for public sector employment as a share of total employment?
- Afghanistan ranks 63rd out of 79 countries with data for 2019.
- Is public sector employment as a share of total employment rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Public sector employment as a share of total employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of all employed people who are paid employees of the public sector, including government, the armed forces, public services, and state-owned enterprises.