Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 34.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Saudi Arabia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Saudi Arabia stood at 34.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 55.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Saudi Arabia peaked at 35.6% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 15.5%, in 1991.
That places Saudi Arabia 164th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 15.6% | — |
| 1991 | 15.5% | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 15.6% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 15.9% | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 16.2% | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 16.4% | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 16.7% | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 17.0% | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 17.3% | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 17.6% | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 17.0% | -3.0% |
| 2001 | 16.6% | -2.6% |
| 2002 | 16.4% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 16.8% | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 17.3% | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 17.7% | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 18.3% | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 17.7% | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 17.5% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 17.1% | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 18.4% | +7.4% |
| 2011 | 19.8% | +7.5% |
| 2012 | 20.6% | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 20.6% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 21.1% | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 22.5% | +6.5% |
| 2016 | 23.7% | +5.7% |
| 2017 | 20.6% | -13.2% |
| 2018 | 22.7% | +10.1% |
| 2019 | 25.3% | +11.5% |
| 2020 | 30.4% | +20.3% |
| 2021 | 35.5% | +16.7% |
| 2022 | 35.4% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 35.6% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 34.6% | -3.0% |
| 2025 | 34.9% | +0.9% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 34.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 71.9%, 49% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 34.9% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 25.4%, 1.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.4% | 15.5% | 17.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.2% | 16.4% | 18.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.5% | 18.4% | 25.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.4% | 30.4% | 35.6% | 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 labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Saudi Arabia?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Saudi Arabia was 34.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 35.6% in 2023.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.5% in 1991.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 164th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 55.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.