Iraq — Labor participation
Labor Force Participation Rate for Iraq, 1990–2025.
Labor participation for Iraq was 41.53% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 36 years, from 1990 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 43.15% in 2016. The lowest was 39.66% in 2021 (about 1.0× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -0.06% per year.
Iraq ranks 174 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 93%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 44.99%, so Iraq sits below it. It peaked in 2016 and has fallen 4% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 4%. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it ranks 16 of 23 economies; Iran, Islamic Rep. (40.97%) is just below it.
Data highlights
World ranking. Climbed: 180th of 187 in 1990 → 180th of 187 in 2000 → 180th of 187 in 2010 → 176th of 187 in 2020 → 170th of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2025
| Year | % of population ages 15+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 41.53% | -0.0 pp |
| 2024 | 41.56% | -0.1 pp |
| 2023 | 41.63% | +0.1 pp |
| 2022 | 41.48% | +1.8 pp |
| 2021 | 39.66% | -0.6 pp |
| 2020 | 40.31% | -0.2 pp |
| 2019 | 40.52% | -0.7 pp |
| 2018 | 41.24% | -0.6 pp |
| 2017 | 41.89% | -1.3 pp |
| 2016 | 43.15% | +0.1 pp |
| 2015 | 43.04% | +0.1 pp |
| 2014 | 42.93% | +1.0 pp |
| 2013 | 41.96% | +1.0 pp |
| 2012 | 40.99% | -0.1 pp |
| 2011 | 41.13% | -0.1 pp |
| 2010 | 41.28% | -0.1 pp |
| 2009 | 41.42% | -0.1 pp |
| 2008 | 41.57% | -0.1 pp |
| 2007 | 41.71% | -0.1 pp |
| 2006 | 41.77% | -0.1 pp |
| 2005 | 41.82% | -0.1 pp |
| 2004 | 41.88% | -0.1 pp |
| 2003 | 41.93% | -0.1 pp |
| 2002 | 41.99% | -0.1 pp |
| 2001 | 42.04% | -0.1 pp |
| 2000 | 42.1% | -0.1 pp |
| 1999 | 42.15% | -0.1 pp |
| 1998 | 42.21% | -0.1 pp |
| 1997 | 42.26% | -0.1 pp |
| 1996 | 42.32% | -0.0 pp |
| 1995 | 42.33% | -0.0 pp |
| 1994 | 42.36% | -0.0 pp |
| 1993 | 42.36% | -0.0 pp |
| 1992 | 42.38% | -0.1 pp |
| 1991 | 42.45% | -0.0 pp |
| 1990 | 42.46% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Iraq’s Labor participation in 1991?
42.45% (1991). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of population ages 15+, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Iraq’s Labor participation growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -2.2% in total — about 0.1% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 41.53%; 2024: 41.56%; 2023: 41.63%; 2022: 41.48%; 2021: 39.66%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SL.TLF.CACT.ZS — Labor Force Participation Rate. Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.