LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force was 11.61 in 2024. ▲ Rising
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Saudi Arabia, 2017–2024
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2024, lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Saudi Arabia stood at 11.61.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.2% on the previous year and up 35.4% over ten years.
Saudi Arabia ranks 18th of 63 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 8.58 | — |
| 2018 | 7.16 | -16.5% |
| 2020 | 9.78 | +36.5% |
| 2021 | 20.54 | +110.0% |
| 2022 | 18.24 | -11.2% |
| 2023 | 13.22 | -27.5% |
| 2024 | 11.61 | -12.2% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 11.61 is above the median for high income countries, which is 7.94, 1.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 11.61 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 4.36, 2.7× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 7.87 | 7.16 | 8.58 | 2 |
| 2020s | 14.68 | 9.78 | 20.54 | 5 |
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 lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Saudi Arabia?
- Lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Saudi Arabia was 11.61 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 20.54 in 2021.
- What is the lowest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.16 in 2018.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 18th out of 63 countries with data for 2024.
- Is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.4%. 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 LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series includes only countries for which the 19th ICLS definitions are applied. LU3 represents the share of the extended labour force that are in unemployment or the potential labour force. For more information, refer to the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database description.