Labor force participation rate in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Labor force participation rate was 65.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate in Saudi Arabia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 65.1% for labor force participation rate in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and up 9.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Saudi Arabia peaked at 65.3% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 47.9%, in 2003.
Saudi Arabia ranks 59th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.1% | 48.2% | 51.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.5% | 47.9% | 49.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.6% | 51.4% | 61.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 64.2% | 62.4% | 65.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More work & labour data for Saudi Arabia
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 65.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 83.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 40.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 33.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 66.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 84.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 34.9% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Saudi Arabia?
- Labor force participation rate in Saudi Arabia was 65.1% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 65.3% in 2023.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.9% in 2003.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for labor force participation rate?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 59th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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).