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 45.1% in 2021. ▬ Flat

Latest (2021)
45.1%
Change on year
up 5.4%
Rank
29th
of 31 groups
All-time high
46.0%
in 2019
All-time low
40.4%
in 2000
Years of data
17
2000–2021

Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 2000–2021

010203040502000201020212000: 40.42005: 44.52006: 44.12007: 44.92008: 45.92009: 44.12010: 44.42011: 44.42012: 43.52013: 45.12014: 43.52015: 452016: 44.32018: 462019: 462020: 42.82021: 45.1

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

Analysis

In 2021, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan stood at 45.1%.

That represents a change of up 5.4% on the previous year and up 1.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan peaked at 46.0% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 40.4%, in 2000.

Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 29th of 31 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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

Annual values for Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (national estimate) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 2000 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2000 40.4%
2005 44.5% +10.3%
2006 44.1% -0.9%
2007 44.9% +1.9%
2008 45.9% +2.1%
2009 44.1% -3.9%
2010 44.4% +0.8%
2011 44.4% -0.1%
2012 43.5% -2.1%
2013 45.1% +3.8%
2014 43.5% -3.5%
2015 45.0% +3.3%
2016 44.3% -1.5%
2018 46.0% +3.8%
2019 46.0% +0.1%
2020 42.8% -7.0%
2021 45.1% +5.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 44.0% 40.4% 45.9% 6
2010s 44.7% 43.5% 46.0% 9
2020s 44.0% 42.8% 45.1% 2

Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan

  1. 26 Vanuatu 68.6% compare
  2. 27 Peru 68.6% compare
  3. 28 Oman 68.3% compare
  4. 29 Bahamas 67.5% compare
  5. 30 Belarus 67.5% compare
  6. 31 China 67.3% compare
  7. 32 San Marino 67.0% compare

See the full ranking of 209 places →

More work & labour data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan

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 45.1% 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?
The highest recorded value was 46.0% in 2019.
What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
The lowest recorded value was 40.4% in 2000.
How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%)?
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 29th 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?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.7%. 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 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. 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/

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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.