Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in Iran
Iran: Labor force, female (% of total labor force) was 16.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, female in Iran, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database. Measured in % of total labor force.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force, female in Iran is 16.9%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in Iran peaked at 19.9% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 9.8%, in 1990.
Iran ranks 183rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in Iran, year by year
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 9.8% | — |
| 1991 | 10.1% | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 10.4% | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 10.7% | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 11.0% | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 11.4% | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 11.8% | +3.6% |
| 1997 | 12.6% | +6.9% |
| 1998 | 13.4% | +6.8% |
| 1999 | 14.3% | +6.6% |
| 2000 | 15.3% | +6.4% |
| 2001 | 16.2% | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 17.2% | +5.9% |
| 2003 | 18.1% | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 19.0% | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 19.9% | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 19.5% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 18.7% | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 17.1% | -8.6% |
| 2009 | 17.9% | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 17.6% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 16.4% | -6.4% |
| 2012 | 17.5% | +6.6% |
| 2013 | 15.9% | -9.0% |
| 2014 | 15.6% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 16.8% | +7.8% |
| 2016 | 18.4% | +9.5% |
| 2017 | 19.3% | +4.8% |
| 2018 | 19.2% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 18.8% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 16.3% | -13.1% |
| 2021 | 15.7% | -3.9% |
| 2022 | 16.4% | +4.2% |
| 2023 | 16.8% | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 16.9% | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 16.9% | -0.2% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 16.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 42.4%, 40% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Iran's 16.9% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 21.3%, 79% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.6% | 9.8% | 14.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.9% | 15.3% | 19.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.6% | 15.6% | 19.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.5% | 15.7% | 16.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More education data for Iran
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 406,399 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 108,066 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 519,698 (2020)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 505,053 (2020)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.62 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 9.09 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.31 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1003 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in Iran?
- Labor force, female in Iran was 16.9% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, female recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 19.9% in 2005.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.8% in 1990.
- How does Iran rank for labor force, female?
- Iran ranks 183rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, female (% of total labor force). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Female labor force as a percentage of the total show the extent to which women are active in the labor force. Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.