Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 was 35.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Saudi Arabia, 1992–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Saudi Arabia is 35.2%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.3% on the previous year and up 64.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Saudi Arabia peaked at 35.2% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 14.5%, in 1992.
That places Saudi Arabia 171st out of 194 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 14.5% | — |
| 1999 | 16.8% | +16.3% |
| 2000 | 15.9% | -5.5% |
| 2001 | 15.5% | -2.3% |
| 2002 | 15.5% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 18.6% | +19.7% |
| 2007 | 18.1% | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 17.8% | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 17.4% | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 19.8% | +13.6% |
| 2012 | 20.3% | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 20.1% | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 20.4% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 21.4% | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 22.2% | +3.9% |
| 2017 | 20.1% | -9.6% |
| 2018 | 22.0% | +9.5% |
| 2019 | 24.6% | +11.6% |
| 2020 | 29.5% | +20.1% |
| 2021 | 34.6% | +17.1% |
| 2022 | 34.5% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 34.6% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 33.5% | -3.3% |
| 2025 | 35.2% | +5.3% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 35.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 57.2%, 62% of the median. (79 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 35.2% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 26.7%, 1.3× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.7% | 14.5% | 16.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 17.0% | 15.5% | 18.6% | 7 |
| 2010s | 21.2% | 19.8% | 24.6% | 9 |
| 2020s | 33.6% | 29.5% | 35.2% | 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 female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Saudi Arabia?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Saudi Arabia was 35.2% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 35.2% in 2025.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.5% in 1992.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 171st out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 64.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.