Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 78.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in United Arab Emirates, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in United Arab Emirates is 78.6%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in United Arab Emirates peaked at 79.5% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 74.4%, in 1990.
That places United Arab Emirates 12th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 74.4% | — |
| 1991 | 74.6% | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 75.0% | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 75.5% | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 75.8% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 76.2% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 76.0% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 75.4% | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 74.9% | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 74.6% | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 74.5% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 74.6% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 75.0% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 75.5% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 76.1% | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 76.7% | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 77.2% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 77.3% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 77.1% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 76.6% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 76.6% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 76.9% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 77.0% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 77.3% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 77.7% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 78.0% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 78.4% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 78.8% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 79.1% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 79.5% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 78.8% | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 77.1% | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 77.2% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 78.4% | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 78.5% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 78.6% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 75.2% | 74.4% | 76.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 76.1% | 74.5% | 77.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 77.9% | 76.6% | 79.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 78.1% | 77.1% | 78.8% | 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, total (% of total population ages 15+) in United Arab Emirates?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in United Arab Emirates was 78.6% 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 United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 79.5% in 2019.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 74.4% in 1990.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 12th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates 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.