Labor force participation rate, female (% of female) … national female in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female) … national female was 58.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in United Arab Emirates, 1975–2025
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 58.3%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 5.8% on the previous year and up 13.8% 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 68th of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female) … national female in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| 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% |
| 2025 | 58.3% | +5.8% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 58.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 57.3%, 1.0× the median. (79 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 58.3% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 26.7%, 2.2× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Labor force participation rate, female (% of female) … national female 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +94.7% | 19.4% | 37.8% |
| 1980 | +55.9% | 10.2% | 15.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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 | 56.2% | 52.6% | 61.8% | 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 58.3% in 2025, 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 68th out of 196 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 13.8%. 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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About this data
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.