Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Iraq
Iraq: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates was 15.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Iraq, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Iraq recorded 15.1% for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 22.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Iraq peaked at 20.2% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 10.7%, in 1990.
Iraq ranks 184th 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 Iraq, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 10.7% | — |
| 1991 | 10.7% | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 10.9% | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 11.0% | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 11.0% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 11.1% | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 11.2% | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 11.3% | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 11.8% | +4.1% |
| 1999 | 12.3% | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 12.8% | +4.1% |
| 2001 | 13.3% | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 13.8% | +4.1% |
| 2003 | 14.4% | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 15.0% | +4.1% |
| 2005 | 15.6% | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 16.2% | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 16.9% | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 16.8% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 16.8% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 16.8% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 16.7% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 16.7% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 17.7% | +6.1% |
| 2014 | 18.7% | +6.0% |
| 2015 | 19.4% | +3.8% |
| 2016 | 20.2% | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 15.4% | -23.5% |
| 2018 | 15.9% | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 16.5% | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 15.4% | -6.3% |
| 2021 | 15.8% | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 15.4% | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 15.0% | -3.1% |
| 2024 | 15.2% | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 15.1% | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.2% | 10.7% | 12.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.2% | 12.8% | 16.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.4% | 15.4% | 20.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.3% | 15.0% | 15.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 181 Algeria 21.3% compare
- 182 Iran, Islamic Republic of 20.8% compare
- 183 Syrian Arab Republic 20.7% compare
- 185 Yemen 7.6% compare
- 186 Afghanistan 7.3% compare
More work & labour data for Iraq
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1891 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1939 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.1833 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2038 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.31 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 65,560 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 15,931 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 50,009 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 50,640 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 100,649 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Iraq?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Iraq was 15.1% 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 20.2% in 2016.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.7% in 1990.
- How does Iraq rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates?
- Iraq ranks 184th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rates rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iraq 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).