Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 12.3% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 1991–2021
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 12.3%, measured in 2021.
The figure is down 17.0% on the previous year and up 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan peaked at 19.3% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 10.9%, in 2008.
That places Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 4th out of 24 groups with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 19.3% | — |
| 1996 | 16.3% | -15.3% |
| 2001 | 17.9% | +9.7% |
| 2002 | 18.4% | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 17.6% | -4.1% |
| 2004 | 17.1% | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 16.7% | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 12.4% | -25.9% |
| 2007 | 11.3% | -9.0% |
| 2008 | 10.9% | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 11.7% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | 12.3% | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 11.8% | -4.2% |
| 2012 | 12.6% | +7.3% |
| 2013 | 12.4% | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 12.3% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 13.5% | +10.3% |
| 2016 | 12.7% | -6.0% |
| 2018 | 12.0% | -5.4% |
| 2019 | 12.3% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 14.9% | +21.3% |
| 2021 | 12.3% | -17.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.8% | 16.3% | 19.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 14.9% | 10.9% | 18.4% | 9 |
| 2010s | 12.4% | 11.8% | 13.5% | 9 |
| 2020s | 13.6% | 12.3% | 14.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
More work & labour data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 19.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 73.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 47.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 14.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 50.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 32.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 50.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 21.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.9% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 29.2% (2025)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan →
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan was 12.3% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 19.3% in 1991.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.9% in 2008.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 4th out of 24 groups with data for 2021.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.