Iran, Islamic Republic of Labor Force Participation
Labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.ZS
Iran, Islamic Republic of's labor force participation was 40.97% in 2025, ranked 170th globally. This represents a 0.7% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Iran, Islamic Republic of's labor force participation stood at 40.97% in 2025, a decline of +0.30pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 41.24% by 2026. Iran, Islamic Republic of ranked 170th globally.
Iran’s labor force participation has slipped from its all‑time peak of 47.14 % in 1990 to a trough of 40.56 % in 2022, and the latest World Bank estimate for 2025 stands at 40.97 %, ranking 170th globally. Over the 36‑year coverage period the share of the working‑age population engaged in employment or job‑seeking activities has therefore fallen by more than six percentage points, reflecting persistent structural constraints such as high youth unemployment, gender disparities and the impact of international sanctions on formal sector demand. The 2025 rate is only marginally above the 2022 low and remains slightly lower than the participation level of peer Algeria (40.78 %) and close to that of Mauritania (40.77 %). The modest uptick from 2022 suggests a tentative reversal, but sustaining any upward momentum will likely depend on reforms that expand private‑sector opportunities, improve labour market flexibility and mitigate the effects of macro‑economic volatility.
Data & projection
| Year | Labor Force Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 41.34% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 41.29% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 41.24% | - | - |
| 2025 | 40.97% | −0.30pp | #170 |
| 2024 | 41.27% | −0.25pp | #170 |
| 2023 | 41.52% | +0.96pp | #172 |
| 2022 | 40.56% | −0.48pp | #175 |
| 2021 | 41.04% | −0.32pp | #173 |
| 2020 | 41.36% | −2.67pp | #172 |
| 2019 | 44.03% | −0.36pp | #170 |
| 2018 | 44.39% | +0.16pp | #170 |
| 2017 | 44.24% | +1.07pp | #171 |
| 2016 | 43.17% | +1.22pp | #174 |
| 2015 | 41.94% | +1.05pp | #177 |
| 2014 | 40.89% | −0.26pp | #177 |
| 2013 | 41.15% | −0.62pp | #177 |
| 2012 | 41.77% | +1.15pp | #175 |
| 2011 | 40.62% | −1.68pp | #180 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Iran, Islamic Republic of matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2019. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw labor force participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Iran, Islamic Republic of's labor force participation was 40.97% in 2025. Ranked 170th globally. This represents a 0.7% decrease from the previous year.
Iran, Islamic Republic of's labor force participation peaked at 47.14% in 1990.
The lowest labor force participation in Iran, Islamic Republic of was 40.56% in 2022.
Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 170th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Iran, Islamic Republic of's labor force participation is projected to reach 41.24% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The labor force participation of Iran, Islamic Republic of in 2025 was 40.97%. This ranks 170th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_iran-islamic-republic-of_labor-force-participation,
title = {Iran, Islamic Republic of Labor Force Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/iran-islamic-republic-of/labor-force-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}