Employment rate, men vs. women in Somalia
Somalia: Employment rate, men vs. women was 39.5% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
39.5%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
183rd
of 186 countries
All-time high
40.8%
in 2008
All-time low
38.8%
in 2021
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Employment rate, men vs. women in Somalia, 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 Somalia stood at 39.5%.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate, men vs. women in Somalia peaked at 40.8% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 38.8%, in 2021.
That places Somalia 183rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Employment rate, men vs. women in Somalia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 39.5% | — |
| 1992 | 39.0% | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 39.0% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 38.8% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 39.1% | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 39.2% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 39.5% | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 39.7% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 39.7% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 39.8% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 39.9% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 40.0% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 40.1% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 40.2% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 40.4% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 40.6% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 40.8% | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 40.8% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 40.8% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 40.6% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 40.4% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 40.1% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 40.1% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 40.0% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 40.0% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 39.9% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 39.9% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 39.7% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 39.5% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 38.8% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 38.8% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 39.6% | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 39.6% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 39.6% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 39.5% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 39.3% | 38.8% | 39.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 40.3% | 39.8% | 40.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.0% | 39.5% | 40.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.3% | 38.8% | 39.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
- 180 Gambia 46.1% compare
- 181 Turkmenistan 43.4% compare
- 182 South Africa 42.6% compare
- 184 Eswatini 36.5% compare
- 185 Djibouti 34.9% compare
- 186 Sao Tome and Principe 21.8% compare
More work & labour data for Somalia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.4652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4323 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4971 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.7917 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.22 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 22,865 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 12,986 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 34,351 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 33,013 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 67,364 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate, men vs. women in Somalia?
- Employment rate, men vs. women in Somalia was 39.5% 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 Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 40.8% in 2008.
- What is the lowest employment rate, men vs. women recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.8% in 2021.
- How does Somalia rank for employment rate, men vs. women?
- Somalia ranks 183rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate, men vs. women rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Somalia 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.