Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) was 84.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Saudi Arabia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Saudi Arabia is 84.5%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and up 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Saudi Arabia peaked at 84.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 68.3%, in 2006.
That places Saudi Arabia 29th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 81.4% | — |
| 1991 | 81.3% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 81.3% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 80.4% | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 79.3% | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 78.3% | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 77.3% | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 76.2% | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 75.1% | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 74.0% | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 75.0% | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 73.2% | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 71.8% | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 70.5% | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 69.5% | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 68.8% | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 68.3% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 68.5% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 69.0% | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 69.5% | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 71.3% | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 73.1% | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 75.4% | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 77.8% | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 79.3% | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 80.4% | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 81.2% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 80.7% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 81.1% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 82.7% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 82.1% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 81.2% | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 81.8% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 84.2% | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 84.7% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 84.5% | -0.2% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 84.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 80.2%, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 84.5% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 74.1%, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 78.5% | 74.0% | 81.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 70.4% | 68.3% | 75.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 78.3% | 71.3% | 82.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 83.1% | 81.2% | 84.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More work & labour data for Saudi Arabia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.6339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.5946 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.6842 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.31 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.5985 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 40,709 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 4,348 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 31,198 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 39,809 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 71,007 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Saudi Arabia?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Saudi Arabia was 84.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 84.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 68.3% in 2006.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64)?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 29th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO 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 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.