Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) was 30.3% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
30.3%
Change on year
up 22.7%
World rank
187th
of 196 countries
All-time high
53.4%
in 2008
All-time low
7.1%
in 1979
Years of data
7
1979–2021

Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Afghanistan, 1979–2021

10203040501979200020211979: 7.12008: 53.42012: 20.82014: 33.52017: 28.92020: 24.72021: 30.3

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

The most recent figure for ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Afghanistan is 30.3%, measured in 2021.

That represents a change of up 22.7% on the previous year and up 45.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Afghanistan peaked at 53.4% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 7.1%, in 1979.

That places Afghanistan 187th out of 196 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Afghanistan, year by year

Annual values for Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (national estimate) in Afghanistan, 1979 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1979 7.1%
2008 53.4% +656.4%
2012 20.8% -61.1%
2014 33.5% +60.9%
2017 28.9% -13.5%
2020 24.7% -14.7%
2021 30.3% +22.7%

Afghanistan compared with similar countries

  • Afghanistan's 30.3% is below the median for low income countries, which is 84.0%, 36% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
  • Afghanistan's 30.3% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 34.6%, 87% of the median. (21 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 7.1% 7.1% 7.1% 1
2000s 53.4% 53.4% 53.4% 1
2010s 27.7% 20.8% 33.5% 3
2020s 27.5% 24.7% 30.3% 2

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

  1. 184 Tajikistan 39.9% compare
  2. 185 Pakistan 34.6% compare
  3. 186 Egypt 33.6% compare
  4. 188 Jordan 28.6% compare
  5. 189 Morocco 28.4% compare
  6. 190 Algeria 25.6% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Afghanistan?
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Afghanistan was 30.3% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) recorded in Afghanistan?
The highest recorded value was 53.4% in 2008.
What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) recorded in Afghanistan?
The lowest recorded value was 7.1% in 1979.
How does Afghanistan rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%)?
Afghanistan ranks 187th out of 196 countries with data for 2021.
Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) rising or falling in Afghanistan?
Over the last ten years it is up 45.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Afghanistan. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/ratio-of-female-to-male-labor-force-participation-rate-percent-national-estimate/afghanistan/

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About this data

Indicator
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
220 places, 5,351 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate is the proportion of female labor force participation relative to male labor force participation. The labor force participation rate is the labor force as a percent of the population ages 15 and older. The labor force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed.