Labor force participation rate in Syria
Syria: Labor force participation rate was 36.9 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
36.9
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
182nd
of 186 countries
All-time high
51
in 1990
All-time low
35.91
in 2020
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Syria, 1990–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate in Syria stood at 36.9.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Syria peaked at 51 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 35.91, in 2020.
That places Syria 182nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate in Syria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 51 | — |
| 1991 | 50.96 | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 50.83 | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 50.8 | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 50 | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 49.19 | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 49.37 | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 49.54 | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 49.72 | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 50.3 | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 50.89 | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 49.96 | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 49.02 | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 48.09 | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 47.33 | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 46.57 | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 45.81 | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 44.25 | -3.4% |
| 2008 | 43.59 | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 42.94 | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 42.7 | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 43.4 | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 39.2 | -9.7% |
| 2013 | 37.78 | -3.6% |
| 2014 | 37.73 | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 37.7 | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 37.72 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 37.74 | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 37.78 | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 37.84 | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 35.91 | -5.1% |
| 2021 | 36.33 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 37.33 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 37.13 | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 36.99 | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 36.9 | -0.2% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 36.9 is below the median for low income countries, which is 67.04, 55% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Syria's 36.9 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 44.99, 82% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.17 | 49.19 | 51 | 10 |
| 2000s | 46.85 | 42.94 | 50.89 | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.96 | 37.7 | 43.4 | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.77 | 35.91 | 37.33 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Syria
More work & labour data for Syria
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 12,499 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 36.74 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 7,259 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 13.9 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 3.36 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 14,788 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 2,364 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 31.63 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 3.65 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 3.31 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Syria?
- Labor force participation rate in Syria was 36.9 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 51 in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.91 in 2020.
- How does Syria rank for labor force participation rate?
- Syria ranks 182nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Syria data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).