Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 54.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in United Arab Emirates, 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 United Arab Emirates stood at 54.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 10.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in United Arab Emirates peaked at 59.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 30.0%, in 1990.
United Arab Emirates ranks 125th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 30.0% | — |
| 1991 | 30.8% | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 31.2% | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 31.9% | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 31.9% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 31.9% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 32.5% | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 33.0% | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 33.5% | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 34.1% | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 34.7% | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 35.3% | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 36.0% | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 36.8% | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 37.5% | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 38.3% | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 39.5% | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 40.6% | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 41.6% | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 42.7% | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 43.8% | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 44.9% | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 45.9% | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 47.0% | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 48.1% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 49.2% | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 50.3% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 52.0% | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 52.5% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 55.5% | +5.7% |
| 2020 | 59.5% | +7.1% |
| 2021 | 51.7% | -13.0% |
| 2022 | 54.4% | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 53.6% | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 53.8% | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 54.3% | +1.0% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 54.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 71.9%, 76% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 54.3% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 25.4%, 2.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 32.1% | 30.0% | 34.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 38.3% | 34.7% | 42.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.9% | 43.8% | 55.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 54.6% | 51.7% | 59.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 122 Vanuatu 55.3% compare
- 123 Nicaragua 54.6% compare
- 124 Equatorial Guinea 54.5% compare
- 126 Mali 54.3% compare
- 127 French Polynesia 54.2% compare
- 128 Costa Rica 53.5% compare
More work & labour data for United Arab Emirates
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.9136 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.7692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.1 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.7766 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 12,158 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,005 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 11,620 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 14,514 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 26,134 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in United Arab Emirates?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in United Arab Emirates was 54.3% 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 United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 59.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.0% in 1990.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 125th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates 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.