Employment rate in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Employment rate was 63.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment rate 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 in Saudi Arabia stood at 63.1%. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 11.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Saudi Arabia peaked at 63.1% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 45.1%, in 2004.
That places Saudi Arabia 49th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment rate in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 47.5% | — |
| 1992 | 47.6% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 47.4% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 47.2% | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 46.9% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 46.8% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 46.6% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 46.4% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 46.1% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 46.8% | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 46.1% | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 45.5% | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 45.2% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 45.1% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 45.2% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 45.3% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 45.9% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 46.6% | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 46.9% | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 48.6% | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 50.3% | +3.5% |
| 2012 | 52.3% | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 54.0% | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 55.0% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 56.4% | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 57.3% | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 55.5% | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 55.8% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 57.8% | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 57.6% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 59.3% | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 60.2% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 62.7% | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 62.9% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 63.1% | +0.3% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 63.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 58.9%, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 63.1% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 39.0%, 1.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 46.9% | 46.1% | 47.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 45.9% | 45.1% | 46.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.3% | 48.6% | 57.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.0% | 57.6% | 63.1% | 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 in Saudi Arabia?
- Employment rate in Saudi Arabia was 63.1% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 63.1% in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.1% in 2004.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for employment rate?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 49th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.9%. 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. 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.