Pakistan — Labor participation
Labor Force Participation Rate for Pakistan, 1990–2025.
Labor participation for Pakistan was 52.34% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 36 years, from 1990 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 52.73% in 2021. The lowest was 48.36% in 1995 (about 1.1× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 0.17% per year.
Pakistan ranks 149 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 80%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 44.99%, so Pakistan sits above it. It peaked in 2021 and has fallen 1% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved up 1%. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it ranks 9 of 23 economies; Libya (47.96%) is just below it.
Data highlights
World ranking. Climbed: 163rd of 187 in 1990 → 158th of 187 in 2000 → 154th of 187 in 2010 → 148th of 187 in 2020 → 147th of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2025
| Year | % of population ages 15+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 52.34% | +0.0 pp |
| 2024 | 52.31% | -0.1 pp |
| 2023 | 52.37% | -0.0 pp |
| 2022 | 52.41% | -0.3 pp |
| 2021 | 52.73% | +1.1 pp |
| 2020 | 51.59% | -0.0 pp |
| 2019 | 51.6% | +0.6 pp |
| 2018 | 50.99% | -0.3 pp |
| 2017 | 51.34% | -0.3 pp |
| 2016 | 51.68% | -0.3 pp |
| 2015 | 52.03% | +1.0 pp |
| 2014 | 51% | -0.5 pp |
| 2013 | 51.45% | +0.3 pp |
| 2012 | 51.11% | +0.3 pp |
| 2011 | 50.78% | -0.2 pp |
| 2010 | 51% | +0.5 pp |
| 2009 | 50.54% | +0.5 pp |
| 2008 | 50.08% | +0.0 pp |
| 2007 | 50.05% | +0.0 pp |
| 2006 | 50.03% | -0.3 pp |
| 2005 | 50.38% | -0.3 pp |
| 2004 | 50.73% | +0.1 pp |
| 2003 | 50.59% | +0.1 pp |
| 2002 | 50.45% | +0.0 pp |
| 2001 | 50.43% | +0.0 pp |
| 2000 | 50.41% | +0.2 pp |
| 1999 | 50.18% | +0.2 pp |
| 1998 | 49.95% | -0.2 pp |
| 1997 | 50.12% | +0.9 pp |
| 1996 | 49.24% | +0.9 pp |
| 1995 | 48.36% | -0.8 pp |
| 1994 | 49.15% | -0.1 pp |
| 1993 | 49.2% | -0.5 pp |
| 1992 | 49.68% | +0.0 pp |
| 1991 | 49.68% | +0.3 pp |
| 1990 | 49.35% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Pakistan’s Labor participation in 1991?
49.68% (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 Pakistan’s Labor participation growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2025 the series was growing overall: +6.0% in total — about 0.2% 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: 52.34%; 2024: 52.31%; 2023: 52.37%; 2022: 52.41%; 2021: 52.73%. 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.