Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Yemen
Yemen: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates was 7.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Yemen, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Yemen stood at 7.6%. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 14.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Yemen peaked at 30.5% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 7.6%, in 2025.
Yemen ranks 185th 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.
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Yemen, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 22.0% | — |
| 1991 | 22.2% | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 22.7% | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 22.7% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 23.1% | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 24.4% | +5.8% |
| 1996 | 25.8% | +5.8% |
| 1997 | 27.3% | +5.8% |
| 1998 | 28.9% | +5.8% |
| 1999 | 30.5% | +5.7% |
| 2000 | 28.7% | -6.1% |
| 2001 | 26.9% | -6.2% |
| 2002 | 25.2% | -6.3% |
| 2003 | 23.6% | -6.4% |
| 2004 | 22.1% | -6.5% |
| 2005 | 20.6% | -6.6% |
| 2006 | 19.3% | -6.7% |
| 2007 | 17.9% | -6.8% |
| 2008 | 16.7% | -6.9% |
| 2009 | 15.5% | -7.0% |
| 2010 | 14.4% | -7.1% |
| 2011 | 12.8% | -11.4% |
| 2012 | 11.3% | -11.4% |
| 2013 | 10.0% | -11.3% |
| 2014 | 8.9% | -11.3% |
| 2015 | 8.9% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 8.7% | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 8.5% | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 8.3% | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 8.2% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 8.2% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 8.2% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 7.9% | -4.0% |
| 2023 | 7.8% | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 7.7% | -1.3% |
| 2025 | 7.6% | -0.7% |
Yemen compared with similar countries
- Yemen's 7.6% is below the median for low income countries, which is 86.4%, 9% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Yemen's 7.6% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 33.3%, 23% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25.0% | 22.0% | 30.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.7% | 15.5% | 28.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.0% | 8.2% | 14.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.9% | 7.6% | 8.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Yemen
- 182 Iran, Islamic Republic of 20.8% compare
- 183 Syrian Arab Republic 20.7% compare
- 184 Iraq 15.1% compare
- 186 Afghanistan 7.3% compare
More work & labour data for Yemen
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.2706 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.2636 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2778 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.4814 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.12 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 27,630 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 20,674 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 54,803 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 55,233 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 110,036 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Yemen?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Yemen was 7.6% 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 Yemen?
- The highest recorded value was 30.5% in 1999.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in Yemen?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.6% in 2025.
- How does Yemen rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates?
- Yemen ranks 185th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rates rising or falling in Yemen?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Yemen 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).