Labor force participation rate by age in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Labor force participation rate by age was 31.2 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
31.2
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
135th
of 188 countries
All-time high
31.2
in 2024
All-time low
17.61
in 2017
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Labor force participation rate by age in Saudi Arabia, 1990–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, labor force participation rate by age in Saudi Arabia stood at 31.2. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.4% on the previous year and up 54.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Saudi Arabia peaked at 31.2 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 17.61, in 2017.
That places Saudi Arabia 135th out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate by age in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 29.48 | — |
| 1991 | 29.18 | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 29.15 | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 27.71 | -5.0% |
| 1994 | 26.28 | -5.1% |
| 1995 | 24.89 | -5.3% |
| 1996 | 23.55 | -5.4% |
| 1997 | 22.25 | -5.5% |
| 1998 | 21.02 | -5.6% |
| 1999 | 19.84 | -5.6% |
| 2000 | 20.35 | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 20.27 | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 20.59 | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 20.93 | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 21.2 | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 21.41 | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 21.56 | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 19.91 | -7.6% |
| 2008 | 19.22 | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 17.76 | -7.6% |
| 2010 | 18.95 | +6.7% |
| 2011 | 20.17 | +6.5% |
| 2012 | 20 | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 20.28 | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 20.22 | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 18.61 | -8.0% |
| 2016 | 19.8 | +6.4% |
| 2017 | 17.61 | -11.0% |
| 2018 | 19.3 | +9.6% |
| 2019 | 20.27 | +5.0% |
| 2020 | 24.16 | +19.2% |
| 2021 | 25.82 | +6.9% |
| 2022 | 28.31 | +9.7% |
| 2023 | 30.46 | +7.6% |
| 2024 | 31.2 | +2.4% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 31.2 is below the median for high income countries, which is 40.59, 77% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 31.2 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 27.51, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25.34 | 19.84 | 29.48 | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.32 | 17.76 | 21.56 | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.52 | 17.61 | 20.28 | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.99 | 24.16 | 31.2 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 132 Ghana 31.44 compare
- 133 Kyrgyzstan 31.38 compare
- 134 India 31.23 compare
- 136 Sierra Leone 30.99 compare
- 137 Cape Verde 30.9 compare
- 138 Croatia 30.85 compare
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 labor force participation rate by age in Saudi Arabia?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Saudi Arabia was 31.2 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 31.2 in 2024.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.61 in 2017.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 135th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 54.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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