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 53.0% 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
United Arab Emirates recorded 53.0% for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 10.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in United Arab Emirates peaked at 58.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 29.3%, in 1990.
That places United Arab Emirates 94th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 | 29.3% | — |
| 1991 | 30.1% | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 30.5% | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 31.2% | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 31.2% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 31.2% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 31.8% | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 32.3% | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 32.8% | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 33.4% | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 33.9% | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 34.5% | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 35.2% | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 35.8% | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 36.5% | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 37.2% | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 38.3% | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 39.5% | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 40.7% | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 41.8% | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 42.9% | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 43.9% | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 45.0% | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 46.1% | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 47.1% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 48.2% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 49.2% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 50.9% | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 51.3% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 54.4% | +6.0% |
| 2020 | 58.2% | +7.0% |
| 2021 | 50.5% | -13.3% |
| 2022 | 53.1% | +5.2% |
| 2023 | 52.3% | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 52.5% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 53.0% | +1.0% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 53.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 55.1%, 96% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 53.0% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 22.2%, 2.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 31.4% | 29.3% | 33.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.4% | 33.9% | 41.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.9% | 42.9% | 54.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.3% | 50.5% | 58.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
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 53.0% 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 United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 58.2% 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 29.3% in 1990.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 94th 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 10.1%. 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+) (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.