Female labor force participation rate in Yemen
Yemen: Female labor force participation rate was 6.0% in 2014. ▼ Falling
Female labor force participation rate in Yemen, 1973–2014
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 in Yemen is 6.0%, measured in 2014. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
That represents a change of down 37.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Yemen peaked at 21.8% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 6.0%, in 2014.
That places Yemen 194th out of 194 countries with data for 2014, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate in Yemen, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 9.4% | — |
| 1994 | 16.9% | +78.7% |
| 1999 | 21.8% | +29.3% |
| 2004 | 9.6% | -56.0% |
| 2005 | 10.8% | +12.5% |
| 2006 | 10.6% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 10.4% | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 10.2% | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 9.9% | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 10.0% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 6.0% | -39.4% |
Yemen compared with similar countries
- Yemen's 6.0% is below the median for low income countries, which is 57.6%, 10% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Yemen's 6.0% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 26.7%, 23% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 9.4% | 9.4% | 9.4% | 1 |
| 1990s | 19.3% | 16.9% | 21.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 10.3% | 9.6% | 10.8% | 6 |
| 2010s | 8.0% | 6.0% | 10.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Yemen
More work & labour data for Yemen
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.2706 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.2636 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2778 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.4814 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.12 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 27,630 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 20,674 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 54,803 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 55,233 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 110,036 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Yemen?
- Female labor force participation rate in Yemen was 6.0% in 2014, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate recorded in Yemen?
- The highest recorded value was 21.8% in 1999.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Yemen?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.0% in 2014.
- How does Yemen rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Yemen ranks 194th out of 194 countries with data for 2014.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Yemen?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Yemen 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. 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.