Labour dependency ratio in Western Asia

Western Asia: Labour dependency ratio was 1.42 in 2027. ▼ Falling

Latest (2027)
1.42
Change on year
down 0.7%
Rank
32nd
of 87 groups
All-time high
2
in 2004
All-time low
1.42
in 2027
Years of data
37
1991–2027

Labour dependency ratio in Western Asia, 1991–2027

00.511.521991200920271991: 1.71992: 1.71993: 1.81994: 1.71995: 1.71996: 1.71997: 1.71998: 1.71999: 1.72000: 1.82001: 1.82002: 1.92003: 1.92004: 22005: 22006: 22007: 22008: 22009: 22010: 1.92011: 1.82012: 1.72013: 1.72014: 1.72015: 1.72016: 1.62017: 1.62018: 1.62019: 1.72020: 1.82021: 1.72022: 1.62023: 1.52024: 1.52025: 1.42026: 1.42027: 1.4

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for labour dependency ratio in Western Asia is 1.42, measured in 2027. That is the lowest value across all 37 years on record.

The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 11.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labour dependency ratio in Western Asia peaked at 2 in 2004 and was at its lowest, 1.42, in 2027.

Western Asia ranks 32nd of 87 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.

Labour dependency ratio in Western Asia, year by year

Annual values for Labour dependency ratio (ILO modelled estimates) in Western Asia, 1991 to 2027.
Year Value Change
1991 1.69
1992 1.72 +1.5%
1993 1.84 +6.9%
1994 1.73 -6.0%
1995 1.7 -1.3%
1996 1.7 -0.1%
1997 1.75 +2.5%
1998 1.74 -0.5%
1999 1.74 +0.4%
2000 1.8 +3.2%
2001 1.83 +1.7%
2002 1.88 +2.7%
2003 1.92 +2.2%
2004 2 +4.3%
2005 1.98 -1.1%
2006 1.97 -0.7%
2007 1.97 +0.0%
2008 1.96 -0.5%
2009 1.98 +1.3%
2010 1.88 -5.2%
2011 1.77 -5.5%
2012 1.74 -2.0%
2013 1.71 -1.8%
2014 1.71 -0.1%
2015 1.67 -1.9%
2016 1.65 -1.5%
2017 1.61 -2.4%
2018 1.59 -1.1%
2019 1.66 +4.3%
2020 1.78 +7.2%
2021 1.68 -5.4%
2022 1.56 -7.2%
2023 1.51 -2.9%
2024 1.46 -3.5%
2025 1.44 -1.4%
2026 1.43 -1.0%
2027 1.42 -0.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 1.73 1.69 1.84 9
2000s 1.93 1.8 2 10
2010s 1.7 1.59 1.88 10
2020s 1.54 1.42 1.78 8

Countries ranked near Western Asia

  1. 29 Lesotho 2.16 compare
  2. 30 Chad 2.16 compare
  3. 31 Tonga 2.13 compare
  4. 32 Senegal 2.12 compare
  5. 33 Pakistan 2.12 compare
  6. 34 Sierra Leone 2.08 compare
  7. 35 Congo 2.01 compare

See the full ranking of 276 places →

More work & labour data for Western Asia

All data for Western Asia →

Frequently asked questions

What is labour dependency ratio in Western Asia?
Labour dependency ratio in Western Asia was 1.42 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest labour dependency ratio recorded in Western Asia?
The highest recorded value was 2 in 2004.
What is the lowest labour dependency ratio recorded in Western Asia?
The lowest recorded value was 1.42 in 2027.
How does Western Asia rank for labour dependency ratio?
Western Asia ranks 32nd out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
Is labour dependency ratio rising or falling in Western Asia?
Over the last ten years it is down 11.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Western Asia 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.

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Labour dependency ratio in Western Asia. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labour-dependency-ratio-ilo-modelled-estimates/western-asia/

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About this data

Indicator
Labour dependency ratio (ILO modelled estimates)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
276 places, 10,188 data points, 1991–2027
Last refreshed

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.