Photo: User:Gire 3pich2005 , derived: User:Nastoshka · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Iran: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Iran is placed 175th 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 37.56 (2025); Labour Income Share 34.95 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
175th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Iran 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
37.56
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Iran: 37.56. 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
- Afghanistan 32.46 · Armenia 51.74 · Azerbaijan 59.83 · Iraq 35.1 · Pakistan 49.5 · Turkmenistan 40.24 · Türkiye 49.75
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
8.301
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Iran: 8.301. 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
- Afghanistan 13.35 · Armenia 12.87 · Azerbaijan 5.457 · Iraq 15.48 · Pakistan 5.42 · Turkmenistan 4.267 · Türkiye 8.52
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
39.52
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Iran: 39.52. 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
- Afghanistan 81.77 · Armenia 32.85 · Azerbaijan 53.84 · Iraq 27.14 · Pakistan 55.51 · Turkmenistan 28.27 · Türkiye 23.91
02Over time
Which way Iran 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
IranWorld median
Iran fell from 38.97 in 2000 to 37.56 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Iran World median 2025 37.57 57.720 2024 37.91 57.694 2023 38.14 58.158 2022 36.88 57.688 2021 37.23 56.066 2020 37.35 55.691 2019 39.30 57.871 2018 38.98 56.911 2017 38.82 56.738 2016 37.72 56.845 2015 37.26 56.788 2014 36.52 56.774 2013 36.79 56.229 2012 36.64 56.289 2011 35.54 56.297 2010 36.51 56.212 2009 37.82 56.255 2008 37.78 57.308 2007 39.65 56.933 2006 40.08 56.685 2005 40.67 56.129 2004 40.82 55.465 2003 39.78 55.630 2002 38.87 55.843 2001 38.85 56.018 2000 38.97 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
IranWorld median
Iran fell from 35.6 in 2004 to 34.95 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Iran World median 2025 34.95 46.230 2024 34.23 46.060 2023 33.83 45.900 2022 32.46 45.615 2021 35.03 45.433 2020 36.57 47.267 2019 38.61 46.277 2018 37.71 46.187 2017 40.51 46.467 2016 40.23 46.798 2015 41.95 46.876 2014 37.66 47.281 2013 36.72 46.887 2012 38.01 46.231 2011 36.51 45.679 2010 34.64 46.024 2009 35.46 47.071 2008 32.60 45.312 2007 31.45 45.246 2006 35.27 45.670 2005 35.42 46.265 2004 35.60 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
IranWorld median
Iran fell from 11.7 in 2000 to 8.301 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Iran World median 2025 8.30 5.08 2024 8.15 5.15 2023 8.13 5.21 2022 9.09 5.34 2021 9.28 6.04 2020 9.69 6.38 2019 10.74 5.36 2018 12.20 5.35 2017 12.23 5.59 2016 12.62 5.90 2015 11.17 6.41 2014 10.68 6.58 2013 10.60 6.71 2012 12.28 6.79 2011 12.49 6.90 2010 13.68 7.04 2009 12.11 6.67 2008 10.63 5.79 2007 10.77 6.00 2006 11.52 6.50 2005 11.81 7.09 2004 10.30 6.80 2003 11.53 6.95 2002 12.80 6.91 2001 12.36 6.96 2000 11.70 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
IranWorld median
Iran fell from 43.8 in 2000 to 39.52 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Iran World median 2025 39.52 28.67 2024 39.76 29.04 2023 40.01 29.33 2022 39.45 29.67 2021 39.65 30.01 2020 40.59 30.54 2019 41.33 29.98 2018 41.84 30.15 2017 41.96 29.93 2016 41.82 29.91 2015 40.91 30.26 2014 40.93 30.47 2013 41.55 31.14 2012 40.71 31.00 2011 40.18 31.41 2010 40.95 32.37 2009 41.78 32.59 2008 42.33 31.76 2007 43.00 33.47 2006 43.29 34.27 2005 43.25 34.66 2004 43.33 35.51 2003 43.48 35.90 2002 43.65 35.96 2001 43.76 35.27 2000 43.80 35.67
03In context
Iran 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.
Iran 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Azerbaijan | =110th | 59.83 | 48.23 | 5.457 | 53.84 |
 Turkmenistan | 123rd | 40.24 | 46.23 | 4.267 | 28.27 |
 Pakistancompare | 136th | 49.5 | 49.83 | 5.42 | 55.51 |
 Türkiyecompare | 151st | 49.75 | 41.13 | 8.52 | 23.91 |
 Armenia | 153rd | 51.74 | 44.21 | 12.87 | 32.85 |
 Iraq | 168th | 35.1 | 41.38 | 15.48 | 27.14 |
| 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 Iran in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Iran is ahead of the world, and behind
22 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 median7
Statistics on which Iran does better than the middle country measured.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 9827098▲ Improved since 2015
Iran: 270 · 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.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3143▼ Worsened since 2015
Iran: 14 · 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.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.8850.784.885▼ Worsened since 2015
Iran: 0.78 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,74212,8636,742No real change since 2015
Iran: 12,863 · world median 6,742 · Agricultural value added per worker (constant 2015 US$). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 210.77 to 150,632; higher is better.
Position 55th of 151 · derived.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 05.30No earlier reading
Iran: 5.3 · 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.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,38457,46847,384▼ Worsened since 2015
Iran: 57,468 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 69th of 168 · derived.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1623.5522.16No real change since 2015
Iran: 23.55 · 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 85th of 182 · derived.
Behind the world median7
Statistics on which Iran does worse than the middle country measured.
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 25,23011,81325,230▲ Improved since 2010
Iran: 11,813 · world median 25,230 · Human capital per person — present value of future earnings (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 700.38 to 735,422; higher is better.
Position 104th of 151 · derived.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8321.912.83No real change since 2015
Iran: 21.9 · 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 37th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Youth Not in Education, Employment or TrainingILO · 2024 · world median 14.3124.3214.31▲ Improved since 2014
Iran: 24.32 · world median 14.31 · Youth not in education, employment or training (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.975 to 65.73; lower is better.
Position 18th of 97 · derived, 1st = worst.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6640.9761.66No real change since 2015
Iran: 40.97 · 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 171st of 182 · derived.
Female Share of Senior and Middle ManagementILO · 2024 · world median 35.8621.3635.86▲ Improved since 2014
Iran: 21.36 · world median 35.86 · Women in senior and middle management (% of managers). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.226 to 56.69; higher is better.
Position 82nd of 86 · derived.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3614.0153.36No real change since 2015
Iran: 14.01 · 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 178th of 182 · derived.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.61101.61No real change since 2015
Iran: 10 · 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.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.945.945.9No earlier reading
Iran: 45.9 · 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.
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.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8834.718.88No real change since 2015
Iran: 34.7 · 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 6th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8945.9838.89Moved since 2015
Iran: 45.98 · 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 14th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8442.9431.84Moved since 2015
Iran: 42.94 · 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 68th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3813.6214.38No real change since 2015
Iran: 13.62 · 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 96th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Public Sector EmploymentWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 15.0113.2115.01No earlier reading
Iran: 13.21 · 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 73rd of 135 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5151.6759.51No real change since 2015
Iran: 51.67 · 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 118th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.95465.62657.95Moved since 2016
Iran: 465.62 · 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.
No current reading for Iran
Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Firms Competing Against Informal Firms, Firms Offering Formal Training, Firms with a Female Top Manager, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Share of Temporary Employees and Trade Union Density. 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 Iran’s 15 topics
Work & Labour is Iran’s 13th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Development & Human Capital48th of 1963/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeingjoint 67th of 2004/4 keys
- Economy & Innovationjoint 73rd of 1763/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequalityjoint 82nd of 1593/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge104th of 1984/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 109th of 1984/4 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 116th of 1934/4 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 122nd of 1843/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade143rd of 1772/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions168th of 1944/4 keys
- Peace & Security165th of 1774/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties187th of 1984/4 keys
- Work & Labour175th of 1824/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability180th of 1863/4 keys
- Gender & Equality181st of 1833/4 keys
No standing on Energy: 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 Iran 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
Iran175th4/4 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 Iran 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
Iran 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 Iran rank on work & labour?
Iran is placed 175th 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 Iran?
37.56 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 Iran?
34.95 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 Iran compare with Pakistan on work & labour?
Pakistan is placed 136th of 182, and Iran 175th. Employment-to-Population Ratio: Pakistan 49.5, Iran 37.56; Labour Income Share: Pakistan 49.83, Iran 34.95; Unemployment Rate: Pakistan 5.42, Iran 8.301; Vulnerable Employment: Pakistan 55.51, Iran 39.52.
How have Iran’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio fell from 38.97 in 2000 to 37.56 in 2025; Labour Income Share fell from 35.6 in 2004 to 34.95 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 11.7 in 2000 to 8.301 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 43.8 in 2000 to 39.52 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Iran?
No current reading is published for Iran on Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Firms Competing Against Informal Firms, Firms Offering Formal Training, Firms with a Female Top Manager, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Share of Temporary Employees and Trade Union Density. 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 22 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
Iran’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Iran (banner) — User:Gire 3pich2005 , derived: User:Nastoshka, CC0
- 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). Iran: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/iran/work