Photo: Afghanistan Matters · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Afghanistan: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Afghanistan is placed 182nd of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 32.46 (2025); Labour Income Share 40.77 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
182nd
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Afghanistan on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
32.46
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Afghanistan: 32.46. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Southern Asia
- 62.73 Bhutan
- Land neighbours
- China 61.57 · Iran 37.56 · Pakistan 49.5 · Tajikistan 35.62 · Turkmenistan 40.24 · Uzbekistan 54.84
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
13.35
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Afghanistan: 13.35. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Southern Asia
- 3.227 Bhutan
- Land neighbours
- China 4.615 · Iran 8.301 · Pakistan 5.42 · Tajikistan 6.931 · Turkmenistan 4.267 · Uzbekistan 4.622
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
81.77
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Afghanistan: 81.77. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Southern Asia
- 16.91 Maldives
- Land neighbours
- China 33.4 · Iran 39.52 · Pakistan 55.51 · Tajikistan 27.98 · Turkmenistan 28.27 · Uzbekistan 33.32
02Over time
Which way Afghanistan is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
AfghanistanWorld median
Afghanistan fell from 42.88 in 2000 to 32.46 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Afghanistan World median 2025 32.457 57.720 2024 32.408 57.694 2023 32.323 58.158 2022 32.333 57.688 2021 35.800 56.066 2020 36.710 55.691 2019 38.913 57.871 2018 40.466 56.911 2017 42.014 56.738 2016 42.457 56.845 2015 42.906 56.788 2014 43.368 56.774 2013 43.301 56.229 2012 43.258 56.289 2011 43.213 56.297 2010 43.159 56.212 2009 43.097 56.255 2008 43.004 57.308 2007 42.966 56.933 2006 42.893 56.685 2005 42.866 56.129 2004 42.881 55.465 2003 42.850 55.630 2002 42.846 55.843 2001 42.817 56.018 2000 42.885 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
AfghanistanWorld median
Afghanistan fell from 42.64 in 2004 to 40.77 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Afghanistan World median 2025 40.771 46.230 2024 40.823 46.060 2023 40.762 45.900 2022 41.456 45.615 2021 40.176 45.433 2020 40.252 47.267 2019 40.851 46.277 2018 41.067 46.187 2017 40.967 46.467 2016 41.114 46.798 2015 41.271 46.876 2014 41.274 47.281 2013 41.164 46.887 2012 40.761 46.231 2011 41.817 45.679 2010 40.958 46.024 2009 40.654 47.071 2008 42.157 45.312 2007 41.502 45.246 2006 42.211 45.670 2005 41.847 46.265 2004 42.640 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
AfghanistanWorld median
Afghanistan rose from 7.897 in 2000 to 13.35 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Afghanistan World median 2025 13.351 5.08 2024 13.687 5.15 2023 14.008 5.21 2022 14.100 5.34 2021 12.006 6.04 2020 11.710 6.38 2019 11.187 5.36 2018 11.192 5.35 2017 11.184 5.59 2016 10.116 5.90 2015 9.032 6.41 2014 7.915 6.58 2013 7.921 6.71 2012 7.875 6.79 2011 7.830 6.90 2010 7.809 7.04 2009 7.808 6.67 2008 7.879 5.79 2007 7.841 6.00 2006 7.897 6.50 2005 7.878 7.09 2004 7.794 6.80 2003 7.844 6.95 2002 7.867 6.91 2001 7.973 6.96 2000 7.897 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
AfghanistanWorld median
Afghanistan fell from 94.67 in 2000 to 81.77 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Afghanistan World median 2025 81.8 28.67 2024 81.7 29.04 2023 81.5 29.33 2022 81.1 29.67 2021 80.6 30.01 2020 82.7 30.54 2019 82.4 29.98 2018 82.3 30.15 2017 82.2 29.93 2016 83.3 29.91 2015 84.1 30.26 2014 85.1 30.47 2013 86.5 31.14 2012 87.9 31.00 2011 89.0 31.41 2010 90.0 32.37 2009 91.2 32.59 2008 92.4 31.76 2007 92.7 33.47 2006 93.2 34.27 2005 93.5 34.66 2004 93.9 35.51 2003 94.1 35.90 2002 94.4 35.96 2001 94.6 35.27 2000 94.7 35.67
03In context
Afghanistan beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Afghanistan and the countries it borders
Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 China | 60th | 61.57 | 51.23 | 4.615 | 33.4 |
 Uzbekistan | =110th | 54.84 | 44.38 | 4.622 | 33.32 |
 Turkmenistan | 123rd | 40.24 | 46.23 | 4.267 | 28.27 |
 Pakistancompare | 136th | 49.5 | 49.83 | 5.42 | 55.51 |
 Tajikistan | 172nd | 35.62 | 19 | 6.931 | 27.98 |
 Iran | 175th | 37.56 | 34.95 | 8.301 | 39.52 |
| Afghanistan | 182nd | 32.46 | 40.77 | 13.35 | 81.77 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Southern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Afghanistan in the topic’s list.
Syria179th
Somalia180th
Yemen181st- Afghanistan182nd
04Context, no vote
Where Afghanistan is ahead of the world, and behind
21 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median3
Statistics on which Afghanistan does better than the middle country measured.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0737.1332.07No earlier reading
Afghanistan: 37.13 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 01.70No earlier reading
Afghanistan: 1.7 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Trade Union DensityILO · 2020 · world median 16.6816.7716.68No earlier reading
Afghanistan: 16.77 · world median 16.68 · Employees who are trade union members (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.2 to 91.42; higher is better.
Position 69th of 139 · derived.
Behind the world median11
Statistics on which Afghanistan does worse than the middle country measured.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8143.7641.81No earlier reading
Afghanistan: 43.76 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 85th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8316.7912.83▼ Worsened since 2015
Afghanistan: 16.79 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 64th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Informal Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 36.7678.8836.76No earlier reading
Afghanistan: 78.88 · world median 36.76 · Informal employment (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.857 to 94.44; lower is better.
Position 23rd of 97 · derived, 1st = worst.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.169.57919.16No earlier reading
Afghanistan: 9.579 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 144th of 179 · derived.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 303▼ Worsened since 2015
Afghanistan: 0 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.166.122.16▼ Worsened since 2015
Afghanistan: 6.1 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 150th of 182 · derived.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.615.481.61▲ Improved since 2015
Afghanistan: 5.48 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.94.245.9No earlier reading
Afghanistan: 4.2 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 98098▼ Worsened since 2015
Afghanistan: 0 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6637.4661.66▼ Worsened since 2015
Afghanistan: 37.46 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 177th of 182 · derived.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.365.08653.36▼ Worsened since 2015
Afghanistan: 5.086 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 181st of 182 · derived.
No better end7
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8483.431.84No real change since 2015
Afghanistan: 83.4 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 12th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3851.6314.38Moved since 2015
Afghanistan: 51.63 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 22nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8818.918.88Moved since 2015
Afghanistan: 18.9 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 91st of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Public Sector EmploymentWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 15.018.74415.01No earlier reading
Afghanistan: 8.744 · world median 15.01 · Public sector employment (% of total employment). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 1.672 to 47.1.
Position 92nd of 135 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.95393.19657.95Moved since 2014
Afghanistan: 393.19 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8935.5938.89Moved since 2015
Afghanistan: 35.59 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 128th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5129.4759.51Moved since 2015
Afghanistan: 29.47 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 169th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Afghanistan
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker (last 2024), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2020), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4) (last 2021), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management (last 2020), GDP per Person Employed (last 2024), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2020), Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate (last 2020), Share of Temporary Employees, Working Poverty Rate and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (last 2021). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Afghanistan’s 13 topics
Work & Labour is Afghanistan’s 13th best-placed topic of 13. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Energy16th of 1652/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 97th of 1864/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation131st of 1762/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture155th of 1843/4 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 160th of 1774/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience178th of 1934/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions179th of 1944/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing190th of 2004/4 keys
- Gender & Equality175th of 1833/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties190th of 1984/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital189th of 1963/3 keys
- Digital & Technology194th of 1983/4 keys
- Work & Labour182nd of 1824/4 keys
No standing on Education & Knowledge, Mobility & Trade, Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Afghanistan can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Japan2nd4/4 keysHighest in Southern Asia
Maldives=64th4/4 keysThis page
Afghanistan182nd4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Afghanistan and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Afghanistan on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Afghanistan rank on work & labour?
Afghanistan is placed 182nd of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Afghanistan?
32.46 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Afghanistan?
40.77 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How does Afghanistan compare with China on work & labour?
China is placed 60th of 182, and Afghanistan 182nd. Employment-to-Population Ratio: China 61.57, Afghanistan 32.46; Labour Income Share: China 51.23, Afghanistan 40.77; Unemployment Rate: China 4.615, Afghanistan 13.35; Vulnerable Employment: China 33.4, Afghanistan 81.77.
How have Afghanistan’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio fell from 42.88 in 2000 to 32.46 in 2025; Labour Income Share fell from 42.64 in 2004 to 40.77 in 2025; Unemployment Rate rose from 7.897 in 2000 to 13.35 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 94.67 in 2000 to 81.77 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Afghanistan?
No current reading is published for Afghanistan on Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker, Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, GDP per Person Employed, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Share of Temporary Employees, Working Poverty Rate and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 21 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Afghanistan’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Afghanistan (banner) — Afghanistan Matters, CC BY 2.0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Afghanistan: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/afghanistan/work