Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates was 57.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in United Arab Emirates, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
United Arab Emirates recorded 57.9% for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in 2025.
That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and up 10.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in United Arab Emirates peaked at 65.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 32.7%, in 1990.
United Arab Emirates ranks 151st 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 United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 32.7% | — |
| 1991 | 33.4% | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 33.8% | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 34.3% | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 34.1% | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 34.0% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 34.7% | +2.1% |
| 1997 | 35.6% | +2.4% |
| 1998 | 36.4% | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 37.1% | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 37.9% | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 38.5% | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 39.1% | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 39.7% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 40.1% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 40.6% | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 41.7% | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 43.0% | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 44.4% | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 45.9% | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 47.0% | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 48.0% | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 49.0% | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 50.1% | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 51.2% | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 52.3% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 53.3% | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 55.3% | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 55.4% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 59.3% | +7.0% |
| 2020 | 65.5% | +10.3% |
| 2021 | 55.9% | -14.6% |
| 2022 | 59.4% | +6.3% |
| 2023 | 57.3% | -3.6% |
| 2024 | 57.3% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 57.9% | +1.0% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 57.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 83.3%, 69% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 57.9% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 33.3%, 1.7× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 34.6% | 32.7% | 37.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.1% | 37.9% | 45.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 52.1% | 47.0% | 59.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.9% | 55.9% | 65.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More work & labour data for United Arab Emirates
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.9136 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.7692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.1 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.7766 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 12,158 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,005 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 11,620 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 14,514 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 26,134 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in United Arab Emirates?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in United Arab Emirates was 57.9% 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 United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 65.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.7% in 1990.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 151st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rates rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates 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).