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

Iraq: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) was 15.8% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
15.8%
World rank
195th
of 196 countries
All-time high
20.2%
in 2016
All-time low
11.3%
in 1997
Years of data
9
1977–2021

Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Iraq, 1977–2021

051015201977199920211977: 19.71987: 13.91997: 11.32007: 16.92012: 16.72014: 18.72016: 20.22017: 15.42021: 15.8

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

Analysis

Iraq recorded 15.8% for ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in 2021.

That represents a change of down 5.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Iraq peaked at 20.2% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 11.3%, in 1997.

Iraq ranks 195th of 196 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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

Annual values for Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (national estimate) in Iraq, 1977 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1977 19.7%
1987 13.9% -29.2%
1997 11.3% -18.7%
2007 16.9% +49.3%
2012 16.7% -1.4%
2014 18.7% +12.5%
2016 20.2% +7.6%
2017 15.4% -23.5%
2021 15.8% +2.2%

Iraq compared with similar countries

  • Iraq's 15.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 70.1%, 23% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
  • Iraq's 15.8% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 34.6%, 46% of the median. (21 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 19.7% 19.7% 19.7% 1
1980s 13.9% 13.9% 13.9% 1
1990s 11.3% 11.3% 11.3% 1
2000s 16.9% 16.9% 16.9% 1
2010s 17.8% 15.4% 20.2% 4
2020s 15.8% 15.8% 15.8% 1

Countries ranked near Iraq

  1. 192 Sudan 23.3% compare
  2. 193 Iran, Islamic Republic of 20.9% compare
  3. 194 Syrian Arab Republic 20.8% compare
  4. 196 Yemen 9.2% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Iraq

All data for Iraq →

Frequently asked questions

What is ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Iraq?
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Iraq was 15.8% 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 Iraq?
The highest recorded value was 20.2% in 2016.
What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) recorded in Iraq?
The lowest recorded value was 11.3% in 1997.
How does Iraq rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%)?
Iraq ranks 195th out of 196 countries with data for 2021.
Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) rising or falling in Iraq?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Iraq 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 Iraq. 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/iraq/

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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.