Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Arab World
Arab World: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 46.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Arab World, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Arab World recorded 46.1% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Arab World peaked at 48.2% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 43.9%, in 2020.
Arab World ranks 45th of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Arab World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 47.5% | — |
| 1991 | 47.6% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 47.8% | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 48.0% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 48.2% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 47.9% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 47.8% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 47.5% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 47.3% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 47.7% | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 47.3% | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 46.7% | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 46.1% | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 46.2% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 46.3% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 46.5% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 46.7% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 47.0% | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 46.9% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 47.1% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 47.5% | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 47.5% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 47.2% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 47.3% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 47.3% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 46.8% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 46.8% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 46.0% | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 45.4% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 45.1% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 43.9% | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 44.1% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 44.7% | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 46.2% | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 46.2% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 46.1% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.7% | 47.3% | 48.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 46.7% | 46.1% | 47.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.7% | 45.1% | 47.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.2% | 43.9% | 46.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Arab World
- 42 Kenya 67.4% compare
- 43 Netherlands 67.2% compare
- 44 Côte d'Ivoire 67.1% compare
- 45 Mali 67.0% compare
- 46 Timor-Leste 67.0% compare
- 47 Cyprus 67.0% compare
- 48 Switzerland 66.7% compare
More work & labour data for Arab World
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 25.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 20.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 73.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 48.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 19.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 30.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 70.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 10.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 39.3% (2025)
- Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) 12.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Arab World?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Arab World was 46.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Arab World?
- The highest recorded value was 48.2% in 1994.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Arab World?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.9% in 2020.
- How does Arab World rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Arab World ranks 45th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Arab World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Arab World data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (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 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.