Labor force participation rate in Lebanon
Lebanon: Labor force participation rate was 43.4% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate in Lebanon, 1990–2023
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, labor force participation rate in Lebanon stood at 43.4%.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 5.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Lebanon peaked at 48.9% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 43.4%, in 2007.
That places Lebanon 169th out of 186 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate in Lebanon, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 44.8% | — |
| 1991 | 44.8% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 44.6% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 44.5% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 44.3% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 44.3% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 44.1% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 44.1% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 44.1% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 44.2% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 44.2% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 44.2% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 44.1% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 44.1% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 44.0% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 43.8% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 43.6% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 43.4% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 43.9% | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 44.3% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 44.8% | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 45.2% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 45.7% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 46.1% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 46.6% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 47.1% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 47.5% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 48.0% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 48.4% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 48.9% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 47.4% | -3.0% |
| 2021 | 45.5% | -4.1% |
| 2022 | 43.4% | -4.7% |
| 2023 | 43.4% | +0.1% |
Lebanon compared with similar countries
- Lebanon's 43.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 57.7%, 75% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Lebanon's 43.4% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 45.0%, 97% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 44.4% | 44.1% | 44.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 44.0% | 43.4% | 44.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.8% | 44.8% | 48.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 44.9% | 43.4% | 47.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lebanon
More work & labour data for Lebanon
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.3208 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.3318 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.3097 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.76 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1062 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 5,052 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 359.79 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 3,567 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 3,626 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 7,193 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Lebanon?
- Labor force participation rate in Lebanon was 43.4% in 2023, 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 Lebanon?
- The highest recorded value was 48.9% in 2019.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Lebanon?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.4% in 2007.
- How does Lebanon rank for labor force participation rate?
- Lebanon ranks 169th out of 186 countries with data for 2023.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Lebanon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lebanon 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).