Labor force participation rate by age in MENA
MENA: Labor force participation rate by age was 25.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in MENA, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate by age in MENA is 25.8%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 11.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in MENA peaked at 36.7% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 24.6%, in 2020.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate by age in MENA, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 36.7% | — |
| 1991 | 36.5% | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 36.5% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 36.3% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 36.1% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 35.7% | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 35.1% | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 34.7% | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 34.3% | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 34.9% | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 34.1% | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 33.2% | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 33.4% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 33.4% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 33.3% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 33.3% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 32.8% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 32.0% | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 31.6% | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 31.1% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 30.6% | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 29.7% | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 29.7% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 29.5% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 29.1% | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 28.2% | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 28.1% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 27.5% | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 26.4% | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 25.7% | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 24.6% | -4.5% |
| 2021 | 25.0% | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 25.2% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 25.8% | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 25.8% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 35.7% | 34.3% | 36.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.8% | 31.1% | 34.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.4% | 25.7% | 30.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.3% | 24.6% | 25.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near MENA
More work & labour data for MENA
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 185,145 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 44.52 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 230,676 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 23,896 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 9.31 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 2.49 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 63,778 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 40.38 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 2.46 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 1.83 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in MENA?
- Labor force participation rate by age in MENA was 25.8% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in MENA?
- The highest recorded value was 36.7% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in MENA?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.6% in 2020.
- How does MENA rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- MENA ranks 7th out of 7 groups with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in MENA?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this MENA data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).