SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) was 3.24 in 2025. ▼ Falling
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in Saudi Arabia, 2014–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in Saudi Arabia is 3.24, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 12 years on record.
The figure is down 8.0% on the previous year and down 42.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in Saudi Arabia peaked at 7.66 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 3.24, in 2025.
Saudi Arabia ranks 62nd of 74 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 5.88 | — |
| 2015 | 5.6 | -4.7% |
| 2016 | 5.6 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 5.89 | +5.2% |
| 2018 | 6.03 | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 5.64 | -6.5% |
| 2020 | 7.66 | +35.9% |
| 2021 | 6.62 | -13.6% |
| 2022 | 5.59 | -15.6% |
| 2023 | 4.01 | -28.3% |
| 2024 | 3.52 | -12.2% |
| 2025 | 3.24 | -8.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 3.24 is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.87, 66% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 3.24 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.02, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5.77 | 5.6 | 6.03 | 6 |
| 2020s | 5.11 | 3.24 | 7.66 | 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 sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in Saudi Arabia?
- Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in Saudi Arabia was 3.24 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.66 in 2020.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.24 in 2025.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition)?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 62nd out of 74 countries with data for 2025.
- Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Data may differ from nationally reported figures and the Global SDG Indicators Database due to differences in sources and/or reference years. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.