Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan: Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) was 43.7% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan stood at 43.7%.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan peaked at 44.8% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 42.2%, in 2020.
That places Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 44th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 44.5% | — |
| 1992 | 44.4% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 44.1% | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 44.2% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 43.6% | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 44.0% | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 44.2% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 44.0% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 44.2% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 43.9% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 43.7% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 43.3% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 43.6% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 44.1% | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 44.2% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 44.3% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 44.6% | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 44.4% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 44.6% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 44.8% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 44.4% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 44.0% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 44.3% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 44.4% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 44.2% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 44.5% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 43.9% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 43.5% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 43.6% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 42.2% | -3.3% |
| 2021 | 42.6% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 43.1% | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 43.8% | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 43.7% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 43.7% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 44.2% | 43.6% | 44.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 44.1% | 43.3% | 44.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.2% | 43.5% | 44.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.2% | 42.2% | 43.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
More work & labour data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 19.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 47.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 14.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 50.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 32.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 21.2% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 29.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 73.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 50.2% (2025)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan →
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan was 43.7% 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 44.8% in 2010.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.2% in 2020.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%)?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 44th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 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.