Female labor force participation rate — all countries

Female labor force participation rate — Iran

Female labor force participation rate in Iran in 2025 — 14.01%. Ranked 178 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 4.44 pp.

2025 14.01% −0.13 pp vs 2024
World rank 178of 182
Period maximum 18.68%2005
Period minimum 9.57%1990

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of women aged 15+

Female labor force participation rate — Iran, 1990–20257.51012.51517.52019901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 9.57%1991: 9.77%1992: 9.91%1993: 10.05%1994: 10.21%1995: 10.4%1996: 10.59%1997: 11.3%1998: 12.06%1999: 12.85%2000: 13.69%2001: 14.58%2002: 15.5%2003: 16.49%2004: 17.56%2005: 18.68%2006: 18.04%2007: 17.01%2008: 14.76%2009: 15.69%2010: 15.14%2011: 13.6%2012: 14.89%2013: 13.34%2014: 12.99%2015: 14.36%2016: 16.17%2017: 17.36%2018: 17.34%2019: 16.81%2020: 13.72%2021: 13.09%2022: 13.47%2023: 14.13%2024: 14.14%2025: 14.01%
Change over the period: +4.44 pp Annual average: 0.13 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Iran 14.01%
World 48.94%
Southern Asia computed 30.46%
Female labor force participation rate — Iran, by year Iran All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 14.01 −0.13 pp
2024 14.14 +0.02 pp
2023 14.13 +0.66 pp
2022 13.47 +0.38 pp
2021 13.09 −0.64 pp
2020 13.72 −3.09 pp
2019 16.81 −0.53 pp
2018 17.34 −0.02 pp
2017 17.36 +1.18 pp
2016 16.17 +1.81 pp
2015 14.36 +1.37 pp
2014 12.99 −0.35 pp
2013 13.34 −1.55 pp
2012 14.89 +1.3 pp
2011 13.6 −1.55 pp
2010 15.14 −0.55 pp
2009 15.69 +0.93 pp
2008 14.76 −2.24 pp
2007 17.01 −1.04 pp
2006 18.04 −0.64 pp
2005 18.68 +1.13 pp
2004 17.56 +1.07 pp
2003 16.49 +0.99 pp
2002 15.5 +0.92 pp
2001 14.58 +0.89 pp
2000 13.69 +0.84 pp
1999 12.85 +0.8 pp
1998 12.06 +0.75 pp
1997 11.3 +0.71 pp
1996 10.59 +0.2 pp
1995 10.4 +0.19 pp
1994 10.21 +0.16 pp
1993 10.05 +0.14 pp
1992 9.91 +0.14 pp
1991 9.77 +0.2 pp
1990 9.57

About the indicator

The share of women aged 15 and over who belong to the labor force. The spread across countries runs from under 10% to over 80%, and it is one of the strongest dividing lines between socioeconomic models. Historically the rate rose together with falling fertility and wider access to education.

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