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Employment-to-population ratio — all countries

Employment-to-population ratio — Iraq

Employment-to-population ratio in Iraq in 2025 — 35.1%. Ranked 174 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 3.68 pp.

2025 35.1% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank 174of 182
Period maximum 38.87%1994
Period minimum 33.25%2021

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Employment-to-population ratio — Iraq, 1991–2025323436384019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 38.78%1992: 38.84%1993: 38.82%1994: 38.87%1995: 38.76%1996: 38.71%1997: 38.77%1998: 38.8%1999: 38.79%2000: 38.71%2001: 38.57%2002: 38.37%2003: 38.18%2004: 38.23%2005: 38.24%2006: 38.26%2007: 38.11%2008: 38.05%2009: 37.94%2010: 37.87%2011: 37.76%2012: 37.72%2013: 38.09%2014: 38.38%2015: 38.36%2016: 38.48%2017: 36.44%2018: 35.69%2019: 34.81%2020: 33.95%2021: 33.25%2022: 35.09%2023: 35.29%2024: 35.2%2025: 35.1%
Change over the period: −3.68 pp Annual average: -0.11 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Iraq 35.1%
World 58.06%
Middle East & North Africa 43.7%
Western Asia computed 47.01%
Upper-middle-income countries computed 59.7%
Employment-to-population ratio — Iraq, by year Iraq All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 35.1 −0.1 pp
2024 35.2 −0.08 pp
2023 35.29 +0.2 pp
2022 35.09 +1.84 pp
2021 33.25 −0.7 pp
2020 33.95 −0.86 pp
2019 34.81 −0.88 pp
2018 35.69 −0.74 pp
2017 36.44 −2.05 pp
2016 38.48 +0.12 pp
2015 38.36 −0.02 pp
2014 38.38 +0.3 pp
2013 38.09 +0.36 pp
2012 37.72 −0.04 pp
2011 37.76 −0.1 pp
2010 37.87 −0.07 pp
2009 37.94 −0.11 pp
2008 38.05 −0.06 pp
2007 38.11 −0.15 pp
2006 38.26 +0.02 pp
2005 38.24 +0.01 pp
2004 38.23 +0.05 pp
2003 38.18 −0.19 pp
2002 38.37 −0.2 pp
2001 38.57 −0.14 pp
2000 38.71 −0.07 pp
1999 38.79 −0.02 pp
1998 38.8 +0.04 pp
1997 38.77 +0.05 pp
1996 38.71 −0.05 pp
1995 38.76 −0.11 pp
1994 38.87 +0.05 pp
1993 38.82 −0.02 pp
1992 38.84 +0.06 pp
1991 38.78 —

Western Asia, 2025

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

QA Qatar 86.9 AE United Arab Emirates 76.89 KW Kuwait 71.77 BH Bahrain 69.65 OM Oman 66.15 CY Cyprus 63.66 IL Israel 63.2 SA Saudi Arabia 63.12 AZ Azerbaijan 59.83 GE Georgia 56.53 AM Armenia 51.74 TR Türkiye 49.75 IQ Iraq 35.1 JO Jordan 33.43 SY Syria 31.89 YE Yemen 27.37
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 Iraq

Labor Labor productivity

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

Iraq by year Labor Unemployment rate

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

Iraq by year Labor Labor force participation rate

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

Iraq by year Labor Self-employed

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

Iraq by year
All indicators for Iraq