Single-source·Aug 18, 2026·1 sources analyzed
Afghanistan: Women's Participation in Labor Market at 5%
The International Labour Organization reports a significant decline in women's workforce participation in Afghanistan since the Taliban's return to power. Current figures show only 5.1% of workers are women. (sources: dw)
Modern Action Briefing
The labor market in Afghanistan has seen women's participation drop to 5.1%, a decrease from over 15% in 2019 and 2020. This change follows the Taliban's return to power five years ago.
- The International Labour Organization estimates women's workforce participation in Afghanistan at 5.1%.
- This figure represents less than a third of the proportion of women in the labor market in 2019 and 2020.
- The decline in women's participation has occurred since the Taliban regained control of the country.
Why it matters
The low percentage of women in the labor market reflects broader social and economic challenges in Afghanistan under Taliban governance.
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