Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in MENA
MENA: Employment (ILO modelled estimates) was 161,568 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in MENA, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, employment (ilo modelled estimates) in MENA stood at 161,568. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 21.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment (ilo modelled estimates) in MENA peaked at 161,568 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 67,340, in 1991.
That places MENA 47th out of 87 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in MENA, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 67,340 | — |
| 1992 | 69,448 | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 71,006 | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 73,120 | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 74,636 | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 77,534 | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 80,074 | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 82,450 | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 85,629 | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 87,607 | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 89,800 | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 91,583 | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 95,206 | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 100,095 | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 103,813 | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 108,033 | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 112,195 | +3.9% |
| 2008 | 114,586 | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 118,376 | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 121,524 | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 122,597 | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 125,103 | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 128,152 | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 130,859 | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 132,810 | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 136,142 | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 137,137 | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 138,953 | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 141,664 | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 138,167 | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 142,238 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 148,808 | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 155,691 | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 158,451 | +1.8% |
| 2025 | 161,568 | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 75,693 | 67,340 | 85,629 | 9 |
| 2000s | 102,129 | 87,607 | 118,376 | 10 |
| 2010s | 131,494 | 121,524 | 141,664 | 10 |
| 2020s | 150,820 | 138,167 | 161,568 | 6 |
Countries ranked near MENA
- 44 Uzbekistan 13,962 compare
- 45 Ghana 12,856 compare
- 46 Côte d'Ivoire 12,764 compare
- 47 Algeria 11,980 compare
- 48 Niger 11,924 compare
- 49 Taiwan, China 11,701 compare
- 50 Morocco 11,495 compare
More work & labour data for MENA
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 230,676 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 44.52 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 185,145 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 1.83 % change on previous year (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 2.46 % change on previous year (2027)
- Employment 161,568 (2025)
- Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) 44.52 (2027)
- NEET rate: Share of youth not in employment, education or training 30.58 (2027)
- NEET: Youth not in employment, education or training 30,521 (2027)
- NEET: Youth not in employment, education or training (ILO modelled) 2.41 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment (ilo modelled estimates) in MENA?
- Employment (ilo modelled estimates) in MENA was 161,568 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in MENA?
- The highest recorded value was 161,568 in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in MENA?
- The lowest recorded value was 67,340 in 1991.
- How does MENA rank for employment (ilo modelled estimates)?
- MENA ranks 47th out of 87 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in MENA?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this MENA data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The employed comprise all persons of working age who, during a specified brief period, were in one of the following categories: a) paid employment (whether at work or with a job but not at work); or b) self-employment (whether at work or with an enterprise but not at work). Data disaggregated by status in employment are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Classification of Status in Employment (ICSE-93). Data may have been regrouped from the national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ICSE. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.