Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population) … 15+ in Syria
Syria: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population) … 15+ was 36.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Syria, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Syria recorded 36.9% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Syria peaked at 51.0% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 35.9%, in 2020.
That places Syria 183rd 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, total (% of total population) … 15+ in Syria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 51.0% | — |
| 1991 | 51.0% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 50.8% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 50.8% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 50.0% | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 49.2% | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 49.4% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 49.5% | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 49.7% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 50.3% | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 50.9% | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 50.0% | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 49.0% | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 48.1% | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 47.3% | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 46.6% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 45.8% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 44.2% | -3.4% |
| 2008 | 43.6% | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 42.9% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 42.7% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 43.4% | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 39.2% | -9.7% |
| 2013 | 37.8% | -3.6% |
| 2014 | 37.7% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 37.7% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 37.7% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 37.7% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 37.8% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 37.8% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 35.9% | -5.1% |
| 2021 | 36.3% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 37.3% | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 37.1% | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 37.0% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 36.9% | -0.2% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 36.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is 67.0%, 55% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Syria's 36.9% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 45.0%, 82% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.2% | 49.2% | 51.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 46.8% | 42.9% | 50.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.0% | 37.7% | 43.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.8% | 35.9% | 37.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Syria
More work & labour data for Syria
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 12,499 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 36.74 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 7,259 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 13.9 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 3.36 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 14,788 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 2,364 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 31.63 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 3.65 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 3.31 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Syria?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Syria was 36.9% 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 Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 51.0% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.9% in 2020.
- How does Syria rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Syria ranks 183rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Syria 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.