Female share of the labor force in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Female share of the labor force was 18.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female share of the labor force in Saudi Arabia, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female share of the labor force in Saudi Arabia is 18.9%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 55.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female share of the labor force in Saudi Arabia peaked at 19.4% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 11.5%, in 2017.
That places Saudi Arabia 178th 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.
Female share of the labor force in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 12.9% | — |
| 1991 | 12.8% | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 12.8% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 13.1% | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 13.5% | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 13.8% | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 14.2% | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 14.6% | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 15.0% | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 15.4% | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 14.5% | -5.5% |
| 2001 | 14.0% | -3.8% |
| 2002 | 13.6% | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 13.7% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 13.7% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 13.7% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 13.7% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 13.0% | -5.1% |
| 2008 | 12.5% | -4.4% |
| 2009 | 11.9% | -4.3% |
| 2010 | 12.2% | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 12.5% | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 12.4% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 11.9% | -3.8% |
| 2014 | 11.8% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 12.2% | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 12.7% | +3.9% |
| 2017 | 11.5% | -9.4% |
| 2018 | 12.8% | +11.7% |
| 2019 | 14.1% | +10.0% |
| 2020 | 16.8% | +19.1% |
| 2021 | 19.4% | +15.5% |
| 2022 | 19.3% | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 19.0% | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 18.6% | -2.1% |
| 2025 | 18.9% | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.8% | 12.8% | 15.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.4% | 11.9% | 14.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.4% | 11.5% | 14.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.7% | 16.8% | 19.4% | 6 |
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 female share of the labor force in Saudi Arabia?
- Female share of the labor force in Saudi Arabia was 18.9% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female share of the labor force recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 19.4% in 2021.
- What is the lowest female share of the labor force recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.5% in 2017.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for female share of the labor force?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 178th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female share of the labor force rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 55.1%. 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 and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female share of the labor force. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the working-age population economically active (employed or unemployed) who are female.