Turkmenistan Labor Force Participation
Labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.ZS
Turkmenistan's labor force participation was 42.03% in 2025, ranked 168th globally. This represents a 0.3% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Turkmenistan's labor force participation stood at 42.03% in 2025, a decline of +0.14pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 42.21% by 2026. Turkmenistan ranked 168th globally.
Turkmenistan's labor force participation rate has experienced significant fluctuations over the past three decades. The country's all-time peak of 56.84% in 1997, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, suggests an initial increase in workforce engagement as the economy transitioned to a market-based system. However, the rate declined to an all-time trough of 41.55% in 2020, indicating a substantial decrease in workforce participation. As of 2025, the labor force participation rate stands at 42.03%, ranking 168th globally. This is slightly lower than Samoa's 42.53% and Iraq's 41.53%. The most recent data suggests that Turkmenistan's labor force participation rate is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic downturn. A sustained improvement in the country's economic prospects and labor market conditions is necessary to reverse the trend and increase workforce participation.
Data & projection
| Year | Labor Force Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 42.33% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 42.27% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 42.21% | - | - |
| 2025 | 42.03% | −0.14pp | #168 |
| 2024 | 42.17% | +0.18pp | #168 |
| 2023 | 41.99% | −0.21pp | #170 |
| 2022 | 42.20% | +0.50pp | #170 |
| 2021 | 41.70% | +0.15pp | #171 |
| 2020 | 41.55% | −1.21pp | #171 |
| 2019 | 42.76% | −0.17pp | #172 |
| 2018 | 42.93% | −0.18pp | #173 |
| 2017 | 43.12% | −0.21pp | #173 |
| 2016 | 43.33% | −0.21pp | #173 |
| 2015 | 43.54% | −0.24pp | #173 |
| 2014 | 43.78% | −0.49pp | #172 |
| 2013 | 44.27% | −0.55pp | #171 |
| 2012 | 44.82% | −0.68pp | #171 |
| 2011 | 45.50% | −1.06pp | #170 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Turkmenistan matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2002. 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
Turkmenistan's labor force participation was 42.03% in 2025. Ranked 168th globally. This represents a 0.3% decrease from the previous year.
Turkmenistan's labor force participation peaked at 56.84% in 1997.
The lowest labor force participation in Turkmenistan was 41.55% in 2020.
Turkmenistan ranks 168th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Turkmenistan's labor force participation is projected to reach 42.21% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The labor force participation of Turkmenistan in 2025 was 42.03%. This ranks 168th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_turkmenistan_labor-force-participation,
title = {Turkmenistan Labor Force Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/turkmenistan/labor-force-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}