Female employment rate in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Female employment rate was 50.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female employment rate in United Arab Emirates, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, female employment rate in United Arab Emirates stood at 50.8%.
That represents a change of up 1.1% on the previous year and up 10.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female employment rate in United Arab Emirates peaked at 54.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 29.4%, in 1991.
That places United Arab Emirates 85th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Female employment rate in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 29.4% | — |
| 1992 | 29.8% | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 30.4% | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 30.4% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 30.5% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 31.1% | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 31.5% | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 32.0% | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 32.5% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 33.0% | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 33.3% | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 33.6% | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 33.9% | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 34.2% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 34.5% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 35.7% | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 36.9% | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 38.1% | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 39.1% | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 40.3% | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 41.4% | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 42.7% | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 43.8% | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 45.0% | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 46.1% | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 47.3% | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 47.4% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 48.4% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 51.4% | +6.2% |
| 2020 | 54.9% | +6.8% |
| 2021 | 47.2% | -13.9% |
| 2022 | 49.1% | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 50.1% | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 50.2% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 50.8% | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.8% | 29.4% | 32.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 35.2% | 33.0% | 39.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.4% | 40.3% | 51.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.4% | 47.2% | 54.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More work & labour data for United Arab Emirates
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.9136 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.7692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.1 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.7766 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 12,158 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,005 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 11,620 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 14,514 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 26,134 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female employment rate in United Arab Emirates?
- Female employment rate in United Arab Emirates was 50.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female employment rate recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 54.9% in 2020.
- What is the lowest female employment rate recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.4% in 1991.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for female employment rate?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 85th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female employment rate rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.