Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Syria
Syria: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 was 14.8% in 2011. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Syria, 1960–2011
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2011, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Syria stood at 14.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.8% on the previous year and down 30.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Syria peaked at 23.4% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 7.1%, in 1981.
That places Syria 190th out of 194 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Syria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 7.9% | — |
| 1970 | 8.6% | +9.5% |
| 1981 | 7.1% | -17.2% |
| 1983 | 11.9% | +66.5% |
| 1984 | 12.1% | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 8.3% | -31.7% |
| 1991 | 10.2% | +24.1% |
| 1993 | 19.5% | +90.4% |
| 1995 | 20.2% | +3.4% |
| 1997 | 11.3% | -43.9% |
| 1998 | 16.7% | +47.9% |
| 1999 | 20.0% | +19.7% |
| 2000 | 20.6% | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 21.3% | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 23.4% | +10.0% |
| 2003 | 18.8% | -19.6% |
| 2006 | 15.0% | -20.6% |
| 2007 | 14.1% | -5.9% |
| 2008 | 14.7% | +4.6% |
| 2009 | 13.0% | -11.7% |
| 2011 | 14.8% | +13.8% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 14.8% is below the median for low income countries, which is 57.6%, 26% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Syria's 14.8% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 26.7%, 55% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.9% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 1 |
| 1970s | 8.6% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 1 |
| 1980s | 9.8% | 7.1% | 12.1% | 4 |
| 1990s | 16.3% | 10.2% | 20.2% | 6 |
| 2000s | 17.6% | 13.0% | 23.4% | 8 |
| 2010s | 14.8% | 14.8% | 14.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Syria
More work & labour data for Syria
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 12,499 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 36.74 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 7,259 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 13.9 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 3.36 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 14,788 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 2,364 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 31.63 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 3.65 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 3.31 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Syria?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Syria was 14.8% in 2011, 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 Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 23.4% in 2002.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.1% in 1981.
- How does Syria rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025?
- Syria ranks 190th out of 194 countries with data for 2011.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Syria 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.
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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.