Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Yemen
Yemen: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 4.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Yemen, 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 Yemen stood at 4.7%. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 10.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Yemen peaked at 21.6% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 4.7%, in 2025.
That places Yemen 187th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Yemen, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 16.1% | — |
| 1991 | 16.2% | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 16.5% | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 16.5% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 16.7% | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 17.6% | +5.4% |
| 1996 | 18.5% | +5.4% |
| 1997 | 19.5% | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 20.5% | +5.2% |
| 1999 | 21.6% | +5.2% |
| 2000 | 20.2% | -6.4% |
| 2001 | 18.9% | -6.5% |
| 2002 | 17.7% | -6.6% |
| 2003 | 16.5% | -6.7% |
| 2004 | 15.4% | -6.7% |
| 2005 | 14.3% | -6.8% |
| 2006 | 13.3% | -6.8% |
| 2007 | 12.4% | -6.9% |
| 2008 | 11.6% | -7.0% |
| 2009 | 10.7% | -7.0% |
| 2010 | 10.0% | -7.1% |
| 2011 | 8.8% | -12.0% |
| 2012 | 7.7% | -12.0% |
| 2013 | 6.8% | -11.9% |
| 2014 | 6.0% | -11.8% |
| 2015 | 5.2% | -13.4% |
| 2016 | 5.1% | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 5.0% | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 5.0% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 4.9% | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 4.9% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 4.9% | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 4.8% | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 4.8% | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 4.7% | -1.0% |
| 2025 | 4.7% | -0.9% |
Yemen compared with similar countries
- Yemen's 4.7% is below the median for low income countries, which is 60.3%, 8% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Yemen's 4.7% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 22.2%, 21% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.0% | 16.1% | 21.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.1% | 10.7% | 20.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.5% | 4.9% | 10.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Yemen
- 184 Syrian Arab Republic 12.7% compare
- 185 Iraq 10.9% compare
- 186 Afghanistan 5.1% compare
More work & labour data for Yemen
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.2706 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.2636 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2778 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.4814 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.12 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 27,630 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 20,674 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 54,803 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 55,233 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 110,036 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Yemen?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Yemen was 4.7% 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 Yemen?
- The highest recorded value was 21.6% in 1999.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Yemen?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.7% in 2025.
- How does Yemen rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Yemen ranks 187th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Yemen?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Yemen 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.