Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates was 40.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Saudi Arabia, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Saudi Arabia is 40.3%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 47.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Saudi Arabia peaked at 42.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 18.7%, in 1991.
Saudi Arabia ranks 171st of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 18.8% | — |
| 1991 | 18.7% | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 18.8% | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 19.3% | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 19.9% | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 20.5% | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 21.2% | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 21.8% | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 22.5% | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 23.2% | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 22.1% | -4.5% |
| 2001 | 22.1% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 22.3% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 23.3% | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 24.2% | +4.1% |
| 2005 | 25.2% | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 26.1% | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 25.3% | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 24.7% | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 24.1% | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 25.2% | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 26.3% | +4.7% |
| 2012 | 26.6% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 25.9% | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 26.0% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 27.4% | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 28.6% | +4.7% |
| 2017 | 25.1% | -12.5% |
| 2018 | 27.4% | +9.5% |
| 2019 | 29.9% | +9.1% |
| 2020 | 36.3% | +21.1% |
| 2021 | 42.8% | +18.0% |
| 2022 | 42.3% | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 41.3% | -2.5% |
| 2024 | 39.9% | -3.4% |
| 2025 | 40.3% | +1.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 40.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 83.3%, 48% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 40.3% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 33.3%, 1.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20.5% | 18.7% | 23.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.9% | 22.1% | 26.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.8% | 25.1% | 29.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.5% | 36.3% | 42.8% | 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 ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Saudi Arabia?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Saudi Arabia was 40.3% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 42.8% in 2021.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.7% in 1991.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 171st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rates rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.3%. 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 (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This ratio is calculated by dividing the labor force participation rate among women by the corresponding rate for men. The labor force participation rate is the share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).