Male labor force participation rate in Libya
Libya: Male labor force participation rate was 62.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Male labor force participation rate in Libya, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Libya recorded 62.5% for male labor force participation rate in 2025.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, male labor force participation rate in Libya peaked at 64.1% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 58.6%, in 2020.
That places Libya 149th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Male labor force participation rate in Libya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 60.4% | — |
| 1991 | 60.3% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 60.2% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 60.0% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 59.9% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 59.9% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 59.9% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 59.9% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 60.0% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 60.2% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 60.1% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 60.0% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 59.9% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 60.0% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 60.1% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 60.3% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 60.7% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 61.3% | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 61.8% | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 62.3% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 62.8% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 63.3% | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 63.7% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 63.9% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 64.0% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 64.1% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 64.1% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 64.1% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 64.0% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 63.9% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 58.6% | -8.3% |
| 2021 | 59.2% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 63.4% | +7.2% |
| 2023 | 63.2% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 62.9% | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 62.5% | -0.5% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 62.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 71.6%, 87% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Libya's 62.5% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 69.8%, 90% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 60.1% | 59.9% | 60.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.7% | 59.9% | 62.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 63.8% | 62.8% | 64.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.6% | 58.6% | 63.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Libya
More work & labour data for Libya
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.1881 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1642 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.213 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.54 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.4664 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 7,184 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 939.57 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 4,815 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 4,969 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 9,784 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is male labor force participation rate in Libya?
- Male labor force participation rate in Libya was 62.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest male labor force participation rate recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 64.1% in 2016.
- What is the lowest male labor force participation rate recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 58.6% in 2020.
- How does Libya rank for male labor force participation rate?
- Libya ranks 149th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is male labor force participation rate rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Male labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the male working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).