Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in Western Asia
Western Asia: Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS was 38.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in Western Asia, 2004–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2025, proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Western Asia stood at 38.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and down 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Western Asia peaked at 48.3% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 38.1%, in 2023.
That places Western Asia 26th out of 36 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in Western Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 48.3% | — |
| 2005 | 47.3% | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 46.5% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 45.7% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 44.1% | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 44.3% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 43.8% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 43.2% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 41.7% | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 40.7% | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 40.2% | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 39.2% | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 39.1% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 39.2% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 39.5% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 40.1% | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 39.0% | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 38.7% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 38.3% | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 38.1% | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 38.3% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 38.5% | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 46.0% | 44.1% | 48.3% | 6 |
| 2010s | 40.6% | 39.1% | 43.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.5% | 38.1% | 39.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Western Asia
More work & labour data for Western Asia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 271,171 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1407 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1411 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.1403 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.7199 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.16 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 73,641 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 322,919 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 524,613 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 253,442 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Western Asia?
- Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Western Asia was 38.5% in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls recorded in Western Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 48.3% in 2004.
- What is the lowest proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls recorded in Western Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.1% in 2023.
- How does Western Asia rank for proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls?
- Western Asia ranks 26th out of 36 groups with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls rising or falling in Western Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Western Asia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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