Share of male vs. female employment in industry in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Share of male vs. female employment in industry was 18.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of male vs. female employment in industry in Afghanistan, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of male vs. female employment in industry in Afghanistan is 18.7%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and down 6.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of male vs. female employment in industry in Afghanistan peaked at 21.3% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 12.2%, in 1991.
Afghanistan ranks 141st of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Share of male vs. female employment in industry in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 12.2% | — |
| 1992 | 12.4% | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 12.4% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 12.5% | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 12.7% | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 12.7% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 12.6% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 12.6% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 12.5% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 12.4% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 12.3% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 12.6% | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 12.7% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 12.8% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 13.0% | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 13.2% | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 13.5% | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 13.8% | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 14.7% | +7.0% |
| 2010 | 15.5% | +5.5% |
| 2011 | 15.9% | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 16.7% | +5.3% |
| 2013 | 18.9% | +13.2% |
| 2014 | 21.3% | +12.5% |
| 2015 | 20.1% | -5.9% |
| 2016 | 18.8% | -6.4% |
| 2017 | 17.6% | -6.2% |
| 2018 | 17.1% | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 16.7% | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 16.6% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 19.6% | +17.6% |
| 2022 | 18.9% | -3.6% |
| 2023 | 19.0% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 18.8% | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 18.7% | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.5% | 12.2% | 12.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 13.1% | 12.3% | 14.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.9% | 15.5% | 21.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.6% | 16.6% | 19.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 138 Somalia 18.9% compare
- 139 Samoa 18.9% compare
- 140 Republic of Moldova 18.8% compare
- 142 Macau, China 18.7% compare
- 143 Burkina Faso 18.6% compare
- 144 Myanmar 18.4% compare
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 share of male vs. female employment in industry in Afghanistan?
- Share of male vs. female employment in industry in Afghanistan was 18.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of male vs. female employment in industry recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 21.3% in 2014.
- What is the lowest share of male vs. female employment in industry recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.2% in 1991.
- How does Afghanistan rank for share of male vs. female employment in industry?
- Afghanistan ranks 141st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of male vs. female employment in industry rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of male vs. female employment in industry. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of total employment working in the industry sector.