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 55.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
55.1%
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
100th
of 196 countries
All-time high
61.8%
in 2020
All-time low
10.2%
in 1975
Years of data
15
1975–2024

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in United Arab Emirates, 1975–2024

2040601975199920241975: 10.21980: 15.81995: 19.42005: 37.82008: 41.82009: 42.12016: 51.22017: 52.82018: 52.82019: 57.62020: 61.82021: 52.62022: 55.32023: 54.52024: 55.1

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in United Arab Emirates is 55.1%, measured in 2024.

That represents a change of up 1.1% on the previous year and up 7.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in United Arab Emirates peaked at 61.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 10.2%, in 1975.

United Arab Emirates ranks 100th of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in United Arab Emirates, year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate) in United Arab Emirates, 1975 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1975 10.2%
1980 15.8% +55.9%
1995 19.4% +22.6%
2005 37.8% +94.7%
2008 41.8% +10.7%
2009 42.1% +0.6%
2016 51.2% +21.7%
2017 52.8% +3.1%
2018 52.8% -0.1%
2019 57.6% +9.2%
2020 61.8% +7.3%
2021 52.6% -15.0%
2022 55.3% +5.2%
2023 54.5% -1.5%
2024 55.1% +1.1%

United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries

  • United Arab Emirates's 55.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 57.2%, 96% of the median. (79 countries reporting)
  • United Arab Emirates's 55.1% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 26.7%, 2.1× the median. (21 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in United Arab Emirates changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2005 +94.7% 19.4% 37.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 10.2% 10.2% 10.2% 1
1980s 15.8% 15.8% 15.8% 1
1990s 19.4% 19.4% 19.4% 1
2000s 40.6% 37.8% 42.1% 3
2010s 53.6% 51.2% 57.6% 4
2020s 55.8% 52.6% 61.8% 5

Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates

  1. 97 Hungary 55.3% compare
  2. 98 Brunei Darussalam 55.3% compare
  3. 99 Czechia 55.1% compare
  4. 101 Slovenia 54.2% compare
  5. 102 New Caledonia 54.1% compare
  6. 103 Curaçao 54.0% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for United Arab Emirates

All data for United Arab Emirates →

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 55.1% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 61.8% 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 10.2% in 1975.
How does United Arab Emirates rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
United Arab Emirates ranks 100th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
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 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in United Arab Emirates. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-female-percent-of-female-population-ages-15-national/united-arab-emirates/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
220 places, 5,454 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.