Labor force participation rate in Yemen
Yemen: Labor force participation rate was 33.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate in Yemen, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate in Yemen stood at 33.1%.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Yemen peaked at 46.0% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 32.1%, in 2015.
That places Yemen 184th 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 44.7% | 44.1% | 46.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.3% | 40.1% | 45.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.4% | 32.1% | 39.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.9% | 32.3% | 33.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Yemen
- 181 Afghanistan 37.5% compare
- 182 Syria 36.9% compare
- 183 Somalia 33.8% compare
- 185 Djibouti 31.7% compare
- 186 Sao Tome and Principe 23.3% compare
More work & labour data for Yemen
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 33.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 61.2% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 7.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 4.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 34.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 62.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 4.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Yemen?
- Labor force participation rate in Yemen was 33.1% 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 Yemen?
- The highest recorded value was 46.0% in 1999.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Yemen?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.1% in 2015.
- How does Yemen rank for labor force participation rate?
- Yemen ranks 184th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Yemen?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Yemen 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).