Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Iran, Islamic Republic of
Iran, Islamic Republic of: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates was 20.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Iran, Islamic Republic of, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Iran, Islamic Republic of recorded 20.8% for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in 2025.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Iran, Islamic Republic of peaked at 25.8% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 11.6%, in 1990.
Iran, Islamic Republic of 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.
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Iran, Islamic Republic of, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 11.6% | — |
| 1991 | 12.0% | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 12.3% | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 12.6% | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 13.0% | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 13.5% | +3.6% |
| 1996 | 14.0% | +3.7% |
| 1997 | 15.0% | +7.5% |
| 1998 | 16.2% | +7.5% |
| 1999 | 17.4% | +7.4% |
| 2000 | 18.6% | +7.2% |
| 2001 | 19.9% | +7.0% |
| 2002 | 21.3% | +6.8% |
| 2003 | 22.7% | +6.7% |
| 2004 | 24.2% | +6.6% |
| 2005 | 25.8% | +6.5% |
| 2006 | 25.3% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 24.1% | -4.8% |
| 2008 | 21.5% | -10.6% |
| 2009 | 22.6% | +5.3% |
| 2010 | 22.1% | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 20.4% | -7.9% |
| 2012 | 22.0% | +7.8% |
| 2013 | 19.6% | -10.8% |
| 2014 | 19.1% | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 20.9% | +9.3% |
| 2016 | 23.3% | +11.5% |
| 2017 | 24.7% | +5.8% |
| 2018 | 24.6% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 23.9% | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 20.1% | -15.7% |
| 2021 | 19.2% | -4.7% |
| 2022 | 20.1% | +4.9% |
| 2023 | 20.7% | +2.9% |
| 2024 | 20.9% | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 20.8% | -0.3% |
Iran, Islamic Republic of compared with similar countries
- Iran, Islamic Republic of's 20.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 71.8%, 29% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Iran, Islamic Republic of's 20.8% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 33.3%, 63% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.7% | 11.6% | 17.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.6% | 18.6% | 25.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.1% | 19.1% | 24.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.3% | 19.2% | 20.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran, Islamic Republic of
More work & labour data for Iran, Islamic Republic of
- 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)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 8.53 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 2.43 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 57,320 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 20,416 (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Iran, Islamic Republic of was 20.8% 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 Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- The highest recorded value was 25.8% in 2005.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.6% in 1990.
- How does Iran, Islamic Republic of rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates?
- Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 182nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rates rising or falling in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran, Islamic Republic of 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).