Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Arab World
Arab World: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 19.0% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Arab World, 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 Arab World stood at 19.0%.
That represents a change of down 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Arab World peaked at 20.7% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 17.6%, in 2020.
Arab World ranks 45th of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Arab World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 19.3% | — |
| 1991 | 19.4% | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 19.8% | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 19.7% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 20.1% | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 19.9% | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 19.9% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 19.7% | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 19.6% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 20.0% | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 20.1% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 20.0% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 19.3% | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 19.4% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 19.6% | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 19.8% | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 20.0% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 20.6% | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 20.2% | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 20.5% | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 20.7% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 20.7% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 20.5% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 20.6% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 20.7% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 20.7% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 20.7% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 19.9% | -4.0% |
| 2018 | 18.9% | -5.0% |
| 2019 | 18.3% | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 17.6% | -3.8% |
| 2021 | 17.9% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 17.8% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 19.1% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | 19.0% | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 19.0% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.7% | 19.3% | 20.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.0% | 19.3% | 20.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.2% | 18.3% | 20.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.4% | 17.6% | 19.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Arab World
More work & labour data for Arab World
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 25.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 20.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 73.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 48.7% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 30.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 70.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 46.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 10.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 39.3% (2025)
- Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) 12.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Arab World?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Arab World was 19.0% 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 Arab World?
- The highest recorded value was 20.7% in 2011.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Arab World?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.6% in 2020.
- How does Arab World rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Arab World ranks 45th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Arab World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Arab World 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+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The labor force participation rate is the labor force as a percent of the population ages 15 and older. The labor force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed.