Labor force participation rate — all countries

Labor force participation rate — Afghanistan

Labor force participation rate in Afghanistan in 2025 — 37.46%. Ranked 177 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 9.73 pp.

2025 37.46% −0.09 pp vs 2024
World rank 177of 182
Period maximum 47.31%2017
Period minimum 37.46%2025

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Labor force participation rate — Afghanistan, 1990–20253537.54042.54547.519901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 47.19%1991: 47.14%1992: 47.09%1993: 47.02%1994: 46.95%1995: 46.88%1996: 46.8%1997: 46.73%1998: 46.67%1999: 46.61%2000: 46.56%2001: 46.53%2002: 46.51%2003: 46.5%2004: 46.51%2005: 46.53%2006: 46.57%2007: 46.62%2008: 46.68%2009: 46.75%2010: 46.82%2011: 46.88%2012: 46.96%2013: 47.03%2014: 47.1%2015: 47.17%2016: 47.24%2017: 47.31%2018: 45.57%2019: 43.81%2020: 41.58%2021: 40.68%2022: 37.64%2023: 37.59%2024: 37.55%2025: 37.46%
Change over the period: −9.73 pp Annual average: -0.28 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Afghanistan 37.46%
World 60.98%
South Asia 55.61%
Southern Asia computed 54.18%
Low-income countries computed 64.2%
Labor force participation rate — Afghanistan, by year Afghanistan All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 37.46 −0.09 pp
2024 37.55 −0.04 pp
2023 37.59 −0.05 pp
2022 37.64 −3.04 pp
2021 40.68 −0.9 pp
2020 41.58 −2.24 pp
2019 43.81 −1.75 pp
2018 45.57 −1.74 pp
2017 47.31 +0.07 pp
2016 47.24 +0.07 pp
2015 47.17 +0.07 pp
2014 47.1 +0.07 pp
2013 47.03 +0.07 pp
2012 46.96 +0.07 pp
2011 46.88 +0.07 pp
2010 46.82 +0.07 pp
2009 46.75 +0.06 pp
2008 46.68 +0.06 pp
2007 46.62 +0.05 pp
2006 46.57 +0.04 pp
2005 46.53 +0.03 pp
2004 46.51 +0.01 pp
2003 46.5 −0.01 pp
2002 46.51 −0.02 pp
2001 46.53 −0.04 pp
2000 46.56 −0.05 pp
1999 46.61 −0.06 pp
1998 46.67 −0.06 pp
1997 46.73 −0.07 pp
1996 46.8 −0.07 pp
1995 46.88 −0.07 pp
1994 46.95 −0.07 pp
1993 47.02 −0.06 pp
1992 47.09 −0.05 pp
1991 47.14 −0.05 pp
1990 47.19

Southern Asia, 2025

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

About the indicator

The share of the population aged 15 and over that belongs to the labor force. It shows how fully a country uses its labor potential. The decline in advanced countries comes from an aging population and longer years of schooling, while low values in developing ones usually come from limited participation by women.

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