Employment rate in Libya
Libya: Employment rate was 39.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment rate in Libya, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, employment rate in Libya stood at 39.0%.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Libya peaked at 40.0% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 36.2%, in 2020.
Libya ranks 167th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 37.1% | 36.9% | 37.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 38.0% | 37.5% | 39.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.7% | 39.4% | 40.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.2% | 36.2% | 39.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Libya
- 164 Turkmenistan 40.2% compare
- 165 Puerto Rico 40.2% compare
- 166 Morocco 40.0% compare
- 168 Lebanon 38.7% compare
- 169 Tunisia 38.4% compare
- 170 South Africa 37.6% compare
More work & labour data for Libya
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 48.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 62.5% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 52.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 33.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 51.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 66.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 35.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate in Libya?
- Employment rate in Libya was 39.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 40.0% in 2018.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.2% in 2020.
- How does Libya rank for employment rate?
- Libya ranks 167th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Libya 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.