Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in MENA

MENA: Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) was 230,676 in 2027. ▲ Rising

Latest (2027)
230,676
Change on year
up 2.5%
Rank
25th
of 87 groups
All-time high
230,676
in 2027
All-time low
80,743
in 1990
Years of data
38
1990–2027

Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in MENA, 1990–2027

050.0k100.0k150.0k200.0k250.0k1990200820271990: 80.7k1991: 83.4k1992: 86.0k1993: 88.2k1994: 90.6k1995: 94.2k1996: 97.8k1997: 101.4k1998: 105.4k1999: 108.4k2000: 112.8k2001: 117.7k2002: 122.7k2003: 126.1k2004: 129.8k2005: 133.4k2006: 137.7k2007: 142.0k2008: 147.5k2009: 150.7k2010: 153.6k2011: 158.2k2012: 161.8k2013: 165.6k2014: 169.2k2015: 173.4k2016: 176.4k2017: 181.3k2018: 186.0k2019: 190.6k2020: 199.9k2021: 203.1k2022: 206.5k2023: 209.0k2024: 214.1k2025: 219.6k2026: 225.1k2027: 230.7k

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in MENA is 230,676, measured in 2027. That is the highest value across all 38 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 27.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in MENA peaked at 230,676 in 2027 and was at its lowest, 80,743, in 1990.

That places MENA 25th out of 87 groups with data for 2027, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.

Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in MENA, year by year

Annual values for Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in MENA, 1990 to 2027.
Year Value Change
1990 80,743
1991 83,355 +3.2%
1992 85,954 +3.1%
1993 88,244 +2.7%
1994 90,642 +2.7%
1995 94,196 +3.9%
1996 97,759 +3.8%
1997 101,408 +3.7%
1998 105,358 +3.9%
1999 108,404 +2.9%
2000 112,803 +4.1%
2001 117,689 +4.3%
2002 122,657 +4.2%
2003 126,127 +2.8%
2004 129,772 +2.9%
2005 133,382 +2.8%
2006 137,747 +3.3%
2007 142,013 +3.1%
2008 147,520 +3.9%
2009 150,719 +2.2%
2010 153,644 +1.9%
2011 158,198 +3.0%
2012 161,796 +2.3%
2013 165,588 +2.3%
2014 169,202 +2.2%
2015 173,418 +2.5%
2016 176,383 +1.7%
2017 181,293 +2.8%
2018 185,983 +2.6%
2019 190,640 +2.5%
2020 199,856 +4.8%
2021 203,059 +1.6%
2022 206,488 +1.7%
2023 209,043 +1.2%
2024 214,145 +2.4%
2025 219,561 +2.5%
2026 225,134 +2.5%
2027 230,676 +2.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 93,606 80,743 108,404 10
2000s 132,043 112,803 150,719 10
2010s 171,614 153,644 190,640 10
2020s 213,495 199,856 230,676 8

Countries ranked near MENA

  1. 22 Viet Nam 22,535 compare
  2. 23 South Africa 21,899 compare
  3. 24 Thailand 21,068 compare
  4. 25 Algeria 20,737 compare
  5. 26 Myanmar 19,070 compare
  6. 27 Iraq 18,700 compare
  7. 28 Spain 18,297 compare

See the full ranking of 276 places →

More work & labour data for MENA

All data for MENA →

Frequently asked questions

What is persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in MENA?
Persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in MENA was 230,676 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in MENA?
The highest recorded value was 230,676 in 2027.
What is the lowest persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in MENA?
The lowest recorded value was 80,743 in 1990.
How does MENA rank for persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates)?
MENA ranks 25th out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
Is persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in MENA?
Over the last ten years it is up 27.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this MENA data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in MENA. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/persons-outside-the-labour-force-ilo-modelled-estimates-15/mena/

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About this data

Indicator
Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
276 places, 10,464 data points, 1990–2027
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. Persons outside the labour force comprise all persons of working age who, during the specified reference period, were not in the labour force (that is, were not employed or unemployed). For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.