Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)

Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income): Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) was 43.2% in 2021. ▬ Flat

Latest (2021)
43.2%
Change on year
up 7.7%
Rank
31st
of 31 groups
All-time high
44.8%
in 2008
All-time low
39.7%
in 2000
Years of data
17
1991–2021

Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income), 1991–2021

0102030401991200620211991: 41.72000: 39.72005: 43.62006: 43.42007: 44.22008: 44.82009: 42.82010: 43.72011: 43.62012: 42.52013: 44.12014: 42.62015: 43.62016: 42.42019: 43.62020: 40.12021: 43.2

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) recorded 43.2% for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in 2021.

The figure is up 7.7% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) peaked at 44.8% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 39.7%, in 2000.

Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) ranks 31st of 31 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income), year by year

Annual values for Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (national estimate) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income), 1991 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1991 41.7%
2000 39.7% -4.8%
2005 43.6% +9.8%
2006 43.4% -0.6%
2007 44.2% +1.9%
2008 44.8% +1.3%
2009 42.8% -4.4%
2010 43.7% +2.0%
2011 43.6% -0.1%
2012 42.5% -2.5%
2013 44.1% +3.7%
2014 42.6% -3.4%
2015 43.6% +2.3%
2016 42.4% -2.7%
2019 43.6% +2.8%
2020 40.1% -8.1%
2021 43.2% +7.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 41.7% 41.7% 41.7% 1
2000s 43.1% 39.7% 44.8% 6
2010s 43.3% 42.4% 44.1% 8
2020s 41.6% 40.1% 43.2% 2

Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)

  1. 28 Oman 68.3% compare
  2. 29 Bahamas 67.5% compare
  3. 30 Belarus 67.5% compare
  4. 31 China 67.3% compare
  5. 32 San Marino 67.0% compare
  6. 33 New Zealand 66.8% compare
  7. 34 Thailand 66.6% compare

See the full ranking of 209 places →

More work & labour data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)

All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) →

Frequently asked questions

What is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) was 43.2% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
The highest recorded value was 44.8% in 2008.
What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
The lowest recorded value was 39.7% in 2000.
How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%)?
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) ranks 31st out of 31 groups with data for 2021.
Is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income). Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/employment-to-population-ratio-15-total-percent-national-estimate/middle-east-north-africa-afghanistan-and-pakistan-excluding-high-income/

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About this data

Indicator
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
209 places, 4,960 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed.