Employment rate, men vs. women in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Employment rate, men vs. women was 82.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment rate, men vs. women in Saudi Arabia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, employment rate, men vs. women in Saudi Arabia stood at 82.1%. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate, men vs. women in Saudi Arabia peaked at 82.1% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 63.9%, in 2006.
That places Saudi Arabia 15th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment rate, men vs. women in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 73.6% | — |
| 1992 | 73.8% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 73.1% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 72.6% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 72.0% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 71.6% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 71.2% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 70.7% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 70.1% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 71.2% | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 69.5% | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 67.7% | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 66.4% | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 65.3% | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 64.4% | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 63.9% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 64.4% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 65.3% | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 65.7% | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 67.4% | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 69.4% | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 71.9% | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 74.2% | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 75.5% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 76.8% | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 77.5% | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 76.4% | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 76.7% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 79.2% | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 77.4% | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 77.0% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 78.2% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 81.3% | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 82.0% | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 82.1% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 72.1% | 70.1% | 73.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 66.4% | 63.9% | 71.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 74.5% | 67.4% | 79.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 79.7% | 77.0% | 82.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More work & labour data for Saudi Arabia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.6339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.5946 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.6842 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.31 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.5985 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 40,709 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 4,348 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 31,198 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 39,809 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 71,007 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate, men vs. women in Saudi Arabia?
- Employment rate, men vs. women in Saudi Arabia was 82.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate, men vs. women recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 82.1% in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment rate, men vs. women recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 63.9% in 2006.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for employment rate, men vs. women?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 15th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate, men vs. women rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate, men vs. women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the male working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.