Labour dependency ratio in MENA
MENA: Labour dependency ratio was 2.49 in 2027. ▼ Falling
Labour dependency ratio in MENA, 1991–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labour dependency ratio in MENA is 2.49, measured in 2027. That is the lowest value across all 37 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and down 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour dependency ratio in MENA peaked at 3.14 in 1991 and was at its lowest, 2.49, in 2027.
MENA ranks 8th of 87 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.
Labour dependency ratio in MENA, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.14 | — |
| 1992 | 3.12 | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 3.12 | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 3.09 | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 3.1 | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 3.03 | -2.2% |
| 1997 | 2.98 | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 2.95 | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 2.89 | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 2.89 | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 2.88 | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 2.88 | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 2.81 | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 2.71 | -3.7% |
| 2005 | 2.66 | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 2.6 | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 2.55 | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 2.55 | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 2.52 | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 2.5 | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 2.54 | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 2.55 | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 2.54 | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 2.55 | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 2.57 | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 2.55 | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 2.59 | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 2.61 | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 2.6 | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 2.75 | +5.9% |
| 2021 | 2.7 | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 2.61 | -3.4% |
| 2023 | 2.52 | -3.5% |
| 2024 | 2.52 | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 2.51 | -0.4% |
| 2026 | 2.5 | -0.4% |
| 2027 | 2.49 | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.05 | 2.89 | 3.14 | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.7 | 2.52 | 2.89 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.56 | 2.5 | 2.61 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.57 | 2.49 | 2.75 | 8 |
Countries ranked near MENA
- 5 Afghanistan 4.31 compare
- 6 Sudan 3.88 compare
- 7 Palestine, State of 3.8 compare
- 8 Mauritania 3.72 compare
- 9 Iraq 3.38 compare
- 10 Syrian Arab Republic 3.36 compare
- 11 Eswatini 3.35 compare
More work & labour data for MENA
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 230,676 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 44.52 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 185,145 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 1.83 % change on previous year (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 2.46 % change on previous year (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 40.38 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 23,896 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 63,778 (2027)
- Employment 161,568 (2025)
- Employment (ILO modelled estimates) 161,568 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labour dependency ratio in MENA?
- Labour dependency ratio in MENA was 2.49 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest labour dependency ratio recorded in MENA?
- The highest recorded value was 3.14 in 1991.
- What is the lowest labour dependency ratio recorded in MENA?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.49 in 2027.
- How does MENA rank for labour dependency ratio?
- MENA ranks 8th out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
- Is labour dependency ratio rising or falling in MENA?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this MENA data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour dependency ratio (ILO modelled estimates). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 37 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. This indicator provides the ratio of dependents (persons aged 0 to 14 + persons aged 15 and above that are either outside the labour force or unemployed) to total employment. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.