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Employment-to-population ratio — all countries

Employment-to-population ratio — Afghanistan

Employment-to-population ratio in Afghanistan in 2025 — 32.46%. Ranked 177 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 10.93 pp.

2025 32.46% +0.05 pp vs 2024
World rank 177of 182
Period maximum 43.38%1991
Period minimum 32.32%2023

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Employment-to-population ratio — Afghanistan, 1991–20253035404519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 43.38%1992: 43.34%1993: 43.31%1994: 43.25%1995: 43.19%1996: 43.12%1997: 43.06%1998: 43%1999: 42.94%2000: 42.89%2001: 42.82%2002: 42.85%2003: 42.85%2004: 42.88%2005: 42.87%2006: 42.89%2007: 42.97%2008: 43%2009: 43.1%2010: 43.16%2011: 43.21%2012: 43.26%2013: 43.3%2014: 43.37%2015: 42.91%2016: 42.46%2017: 42.01%2018: 40.47%2019: 38.91%2020: 36.71%2021: 35.8%2022: 32.33%2023: 32.32%2024: 32.41%2025: 32.46%
Change over the period: −10.93 pp Annual average: -0.32 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Afghanistan

Afghanistan 32.46%
World 58.06%
South Asia 53.25%
Southern Asia computed 51.66%
Low-income countries computed 60.99%
Employment-to-population ratio — Afghanistan, by year Afghanistan All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 32.46 +0.05 pp
2024 32.41 +0.09 pp
2023 32.32 −0.01 pp
2022 32.33 −3.47 pp
2021 35.8 −0.91 pp
2020 36.71 −2.2 pp
2019 38.91 −1.55 pp
2018 40.47 −1.55 pp
2017 42.01 −0.44 pp
2016 42.46 −0.45 pp
2015 42.91 −0.46 pp
2014 43.37 +0.07 pp
2013 43.3 +0.04 pp
2012 43.26 +0.05 pp
2011 43.21 +0.05 pp
2010 43.16 +0.06 pp
2009 43.1 +0.09 pp
2008 43 +0.04 pp
2007 42.97 +0.07 pp
2006 42.89 +0.03 pp
2005 42.87 −0.02 pp
2004 42.88 +0.03 pp
2003 42.85 +0 pp
2002 42.85 +0.03 pp
2001 42.82 −0.07 pp
2000 42.89 −0.05 pp
1999 42.94 −0.06 pp
1998 43 −0.06 pp
1997 43.06 −0.06 pp
1996 43.12 −0.07 pp
1995 43.19 −0.06 pp
1994 43.25 −0.06 pp
1993 43.31 −0.04 pp
1992 43.34 −0.04 pp
1991 43.38 —

Southern Asia, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

BT Bhutan 62.73 MV Maldives 60.63 BD Bangladesh 56.57 IN India 53.31 PK Pakistan 49.5 LK Sri Lanka 46.57 IR Iran 37.57 NP Nepal 35.14 AF Afghanistan 32.46
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The ratio of the employed to the population aged 15 and over. Unlike the unemployment rate it does not depend on whether a person is looking for work, so it captures the actual involvement of the population in the economy better. Employment and unemployment together give the full picture: low unemployment alongside low employment means mass withdrawal from the labor force.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.

Other indicators for Afghanistan

Labor Labor productivity

How much output one employed person creates in a year — in constant PPP dollars.

Afghanistan by year Labor Unemployment rate

The share of the labor force that is looking for work and available to start.

Afghanistan by year Labor Labor force participation rate

What share of the population aged 15 and over works or looks for work.

Afghanistan by year Labor Self-employed

The share of workers who work for themselves — from entrepreneurs to the informally employed.

Afghanistan by year
All indicators for Afghanistan