Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) was 64.92 in 2027. ▲ Rising
Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Saudi Arabia, 1990–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2027, labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Saudi Arabia stood at 64.92.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and up 10.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Saudi Arabia peaked at 65.34 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 47.89, in 2003.
Saudi Arabia ranks 59th of 188 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.
Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 51.35 | — |
| 1991 | 51.26 | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 51.35 | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 50.97 | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 50.56 | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 50.13 | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 49.66 | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 49.18 | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 48.69 | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 48.22 | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 48.99 | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 48.37 | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 47.98 | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 47.89 | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 47.91 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 48.06 | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 48.35 | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 48.65 | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 49.13 | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 49.58 | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 51.43 | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 53.37 | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 55.4 | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 57.15 | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 58.41 | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 59.75 | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 60.69 | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 58.99 | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 59.42 | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 61.2 | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 62.41 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 63.51 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 63.8 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 65.34 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 65.2 | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 65.1 | -0.2% |
| 2026 | 65.01 | -0.1% |
| 2027 | 64.92 | -0.1% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 64.92 is above the median for high income countries, which is 62.3, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 64.92 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 44.67, 1.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.14 | 48.22 | 51.35 | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.49 | 47.89 | 49.58 | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.58 | 51.43 | 61.2 | 10 |
| 2020s | 64.41 | 62.41 | 65.34 | 8 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More work & labour data for Saudi Arabia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.6339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.5946 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.6842 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.31 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.5985 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 40,709 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 4,348 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 31,198 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 39,809 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 71,007 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Saudi Arabia?
- Labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Saudi Arabia was 64.92 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 65.34 in 2023.
- What is the lowest labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.89 in 2003.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 59th out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
- Is labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 38 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. The labour force participation rate is the labour force as a percent of the working-age population. The labour force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.