Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates was 7.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Afghanistan, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 7.3% for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 71.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Afghanistan peaked at 28.9% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 7.3%, in 2025.
That places Afghanistan 186th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 19.7% | — |
| 1991 | 19.6% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 19.5% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 19.4% | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 19.2% | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 19.0% | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 18.8% | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 18.5% | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 18.3% | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 18.1% | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 17.9% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 17.8% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 17.7% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 17.8% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 17.8% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 18.0% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 18.2% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 18.5% | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 18.9% | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 19.4% | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 19.8% | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 20.3% | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 20.8% | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 22.2% | +6.9% |
| 2014 | 23.8% | +6.9% |
| 2015 | 25.4% | +6.8% |
| 2016 | 27.1% | +6.8% |
| 2017 | 28.9% | +6.8% |
| 2018 | 27.7% | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 26.4% | -5.0% |
| 2020 | 24.7% | -6.4% |
| 2021 | 21.9% | -11.4% |
| 2022 | 7.3% | -66.4% |
| 2023 | 7.3% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 7.3% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 7.3% | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.0% | 18.1% | 19.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.2% | 17.7% | 19.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.2% | 19.8% | 28.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.6% | 7.3% | 24.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
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 ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Afghanistan?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Afghanistan was 7.3% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 28.9% in 2017.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.3% in 2025.
- How does Afghanistan rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates?
- Afghanistan ranks 186th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rates rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 71.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This ratio is calculated by dividing the labor force participation rate among women by the corresponding rate for men. The labor force participation rate is the share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).