Labor force participation rate in Egypt
Egypt: Labor force participation rate was 44.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
44.6%
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
167th
of 186 countries
All-time high
49.4%
in 2010
All-time low
41.6%
in 2020
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Egypt, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Egypt recorded 44.6% for labor force participation rate in 2025.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Egypt peaked at 49.4% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 41.6%, in 2020.
Egypt ranks 167th of 186 countries 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 in Egypt, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 46.7% | — |
| 1991 | 46.7% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 47.2% | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 47.9% | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 48.9% | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 47.9% | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 47.3% | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 46.6% | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 46.0% | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 47.5% | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 46.2% | -2.7% |
| 2001 | 44.9% | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 43.2% | -3.9% |
| 2003 | 44.1% | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 45.1% | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 46.0% | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 47.0% | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 47.9% | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 47.6% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 47.9% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 49.4% | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 48.8% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 48.5% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 48.4% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 48.1% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 47.0% | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 46.6% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 45.0% | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 43.3% | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 42.2% | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 41.6% | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 43.0% | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 42.8% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 44.7% | +4.3% |
| 2024 | 44.6% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 44.6% | -0.1% |
Egypt compared with similar countries
- Egypt's 44.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 57.7%, 77% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Egypt's 44.6% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 45.0%, 99% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.3% | 46.0% | 48.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 46.0% | 43.2% | 47.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.7% | 42.2% | 49.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.5% | 41.6% | 44.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Egypt
More work & labour data for Egypt
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0535 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.0709 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0359 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.3894 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.13 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 85,321 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 68,113 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 100,315 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 101,580 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 201,895 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Egypt?
- Labor force participation rate in Egypt was 44.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Egypt?
- The highest recorded value was 49.4% in 2010.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Egypt?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.6% in 2020.
- How does Egypt rank for labor force participation rate?
- Egypt ranks 167th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Egypt?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Egypt data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).