Employment-to-population ratio — all countries

Employment-to-population ratio — Middle East & North Africa

Employment-to-population ratio in Middle East & North Africa in 2025 — 43.7%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 0.78 pp.

2025 43.7% −0.03 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 44.84%2010
Period minimum 42.15%2020

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Employment-to-population ratio — Middle East & North Africa, 1991–20254243444519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 44.48%1992: 44.45%1993: 44.15%1994: 44.19%1995: 43.62%1996: 44.03%1997: 44.24%1998: 44.02%1999: 44.19%2000: 43.94%2001: 43.67%2002: 43.31%2003: 43.57%2004: 44.13%2005: 44.18%2006: 44.32%2007: 44.57%2008: 44.39%2009: 44.62%2010: 44.84%2011: 44.38%2012: 44.02%2013: 44.32%2014: 44.37%2015: 44.23%2016: 44.47%2017: 43.93%2018: 43.54%2019: 43.58%2020: 42.15%2021: 42.61%2022: 43.12%2023: 43.8%2024: 43.73%2025: 43.7%
Change over the period: −0.78 pp Annual average: -0.02 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Middle East & North Africa

Middle East & North Africa 43.7%
World 58.06%
Employment-to-population ratio — Middle East & North Africa, by year Middle East & North Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 43.7 −0.03 pp
2024 43.73 −0.07 pp
2023 43.8 +0.68 pp
2022 43.12 +0.51 pp
2021 42.61 +0.45 pp
2020 42.15 −1.42 pp
2019 43.58 +0.03 pp
2018 43.54 −0.38 pp
2017 43.93 −0.54 pp
2016 44.47 +0.24 pp
2015 44.23 −0.14 pp
2014 44.37 +0.05 pp
2013 44.32 +0.3 pp
2012 44.02 −0.36 pp
2011 44.38 −0.46 pp
2010 44.84 +0.22 pp
2009 44.62 +0.23 pp
2008 44.39 −0.18 pp
2007 44.57 +0.25 pp
2006 44.32 +0.14 pp
2005 44.18 +0.05 pp
2004 44.13 +0.56 pp
2003 43.57 +0.26 pp
2002 43.31 −0.36 pp
2001 43.67 −0.27 pp
2000 43.94 −0.25 pp
1999 44.19 +0.17 pp
1998 44.02 −0.22 pp
1997 44.24 +0.21 pp
1996 44.03 +0.41 pp
1995 43.62 −0.56 pp
1994 44.19 +0.04 pp
1993 44.15 −0.3 pp
1992 44.45 −0.04 pp
1991 44.48

About the indicator

The ratio of the employed to the population aged 15 and over. Unlike the unemployment rate it does not depend on whether a person is looking for work, so it captures the actual involvement of the population in the economy better. Employment and unemployment together give the full picture: low unemployment alongside low employment means mass withdrawal from the labor force.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.