Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate) in Libya
Libya: Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate) was 39.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
39.0%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
168th
of 187 countries
All-time high
40.0%
in 2018
All-time low
36.2%
in 2020
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Libya, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Libya is 39.0%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Libya peaked at 40.0% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 36.2%, in 2020.
Libya ranks 168th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate) in Libya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 37.1% | — |
| 1992 | 37.0% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 37.0% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 36.9% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 36.9% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 37.1% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 37.3% | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 37.4% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 37.6% | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 37.6% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 37.5% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 37.5% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 37.6% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 37.7% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 37.9% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 38.1% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 38.5% | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 38.8% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 39.0% | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 39.4% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 39.5% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 39.8% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 39.8% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 39.9% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 39.7% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 39.7% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 39.9% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 40.0% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 39.8% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 36.2% | -9.1% |
| 2021 | 36.5% | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 39.4% | +7.9% |
| 2023 | 39.4% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 39.1% | -1.0% |
| 2025 | 39.0% | -0.2% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 39.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 55.7%, 70% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Libya's 39.0% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 39.0%, 1.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 37.1% | 36.9% | 37.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 38.0% | 37.5% | 39.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.7% | 39.4% | 40.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.2% | 36.2% | 39.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Libya
- 165 Turkmenistan 40.2% compare
- 166 Puerto Rico 40.2% compare
- 167 Morocco 40.0% compare
- 169 Lebanon 38.7% compare
- 170 Tunisia 38.4% compare
- 171 South Africa 37.6% compare
More work & labour data for Libya
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.1881 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1642 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.213 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.54 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.4664 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 7,184 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 939.57 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 4,815 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 4,969 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 9,784 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Libya?
- Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Libya was 39.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 40.0% in 2018.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.2% in 2020.
- How does Libya rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%)?
- Libya ranks 168th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed.