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 47.4% in 2017. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Arab World, 2007–2017
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Arab World recorded 47.4% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in 2017.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.5% on the previous year and down 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Arab World peaked at 49.1% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 45.7%, in 2014.
That places Arab World 31st out of 33 groups with data for 2017, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Arab World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 47.5% | — |
| 2008 | 47.9% | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 46.1% | -3.7% |
| 2011 | 48.1% | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 47.1% | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 45.7% | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 49.1% | +7.4% |
| 2017 | 47.4% | -3.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 47.2% | 46.1% | 47.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 47.5% | 45.7% | 49.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Arab World
More work & labour data for Arab World
- 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, total (%) 25.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 39.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 10.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 46.1% (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 47.4% in 2017, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 49.1% in 2016.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Arab World?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.7% in 2014.
- How does Arab World rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Arab World ranks 31st out of 33 groups with data for 2017.
- 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 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Arab World data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, total (% of total 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.