Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Arab World
Arab World: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 7.1% in 2016. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Arab World, 2005–2016
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Arab World recorded 7.1% for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in 2016.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 16.7% on the previous year and down 13.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Arab World peaked at 9.3% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 6.8%, in 2010.
Arab World ranks 3rd of 24 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 10 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Arab World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 9.2% | — |
| 2006 | 8.2% | -10.3% |
| 2007 | 8.1% | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 7.8% | -3.9% |
| 2009 | 7.0% | -9.6% |
| 2010 | 6.8% | -3.7% |
| 2011 | 9.3% | +38.1% |
| 2012 | 8.4% | -10.2% |
| 2014 | 8.6% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 7.1% | -16.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.1% | 7.0% | 9.2% | 5 |
| 2010s | 8.0% | 6.8% | 9.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Arab World
- 1 Eswatini 31.8% compare
- 2 South Africa 30.4% compare
- 3 Palestine, State of 28.5% compare
- 4 Botswana 22.5% compare
- 5 Namibia 21.1% compare
- 6 French Polynesia 21.1% compare
More work & labour data for Arab World
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 46.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 20.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 25.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 39.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 10.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 73.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 48.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 19.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 30.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 70.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Arab World?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Arab World was 7.1% in 2016, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Arab World?
- The highest recorded value was 9.3% in 2011.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Arab World?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.8% in 2010.
- How does Arab World rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Arab World ranks 3rd out of 24 groups with data for 2016.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Arab World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Arab World data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male 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.