Female share of the labor force in Syria
Syria: Female share of the labor force was 17.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Female share of the labor force in Syria, 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 Syria is 17.4%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female share of the labor force in Syria peaked at 20.8% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 15.2%, in 2010.
Syria ranks 180th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Female share of the labor force in Syria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 18.3% | — |
| 1991 | 18.6% | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 19.1% | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 19.3% | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 20.0% | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 20.8% | +3.7% |
| 1996 | 19.2% | -7.3% |
| 1997 | 17.9% | -7.2% |
| 1998 | 16.6% | -7.1% |
| 1999 | 18.5% | +11.3% |
| 2000 | 20.5% | +11.1% |
| 2001 | 20.3% | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 20.0% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 19.8% | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 18.8% | -5.1% |
| 2005 | 17.8% | -5.3% |
| 2006 | 16.8% | -5.4% |
| 2007 | 16.1% | -4.4% |
| 2008 | 15.7% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 15.4% | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 15.2% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 17.2% | +13.2% |
| 2012 | 17.2% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 17.3% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 17.1% | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 17.0% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 17.2% | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 17.4% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 17.6% | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 17.9% | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 17.9% | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 17.9% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 17.6% | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 17.5% | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 17.4% | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 17.4% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.8% | 16.6% | 20.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.1% | 15.4% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.1% | 15.2% | 17.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.6% | 17.4% | 17.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Syria
More work & labour data for Syria
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 12,499 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 36.74 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 7,259 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 31.63 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 3.65 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 3.31 % change on previous year (2027)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 36.9% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female share of the labor force in Syria?
- Female share of the labor force in Syria was 17.4% 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 Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 20.8% in 1995.
- What is the lowest female share of the labor force recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.2% in 2010.
- How does Syria rank for female share of the labor force?
- Syria ranks 180th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female share of the labor force rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Syria 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.