United Arab Emirates—Labor Force Participation (%)
Category: LaborSource: World Bank World Development Indicators ↗Global Rank: #12 of 187Updated April 2026
Latest Value
78.6%
2025
YoY Change
+0.1%
2024 → 2025
Global Rank
#12
of 187 countries
Maximum
79.5%
2019
Minimum
74.5%
2000
CAGR
+0.2%
26 years
Last
78.6%
Previous
78.5%
Highest
79.5%
Lowest
74.5%
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
United Arab Emirates's labor force participation (%) was 78.6% in 2025, ranking #12 out of 187 countries. This represents a +0.1% change from 2024. Over the past 26 years, the highest recorded value was 79.5% (2019) and the lowest was 74.5% (2000). Data sourced from the World Bank World Development Indicators.
Source: World Bank World Development Indicators
Historical Data
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 78.6% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 78.5% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 78.4% | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 77.2% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 77.1% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 78.8% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 79.5% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 79.1% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 78.8% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 78.4% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 78.0% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 77.7% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 77.3% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 77.0% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 76.9% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 76.6% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 76.6% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 77.1% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 77.3% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 77.2% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 76.7% | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 76.1% | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 75.5% | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 75.0% | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 74.6% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 74.5% |
Top Countries — Labor Force Participation (%)
| # | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Qatar | 87.0% | 2025 |
| 2 | Madagascar | 85.5% | 2025 |
| 3 | Solomon Islands | 84.3% | 2025 |
| 4 | Tanzania | 83.7% | 2025 |
| 5 | Nigeria | 82.5% | 2025 |
| 6 | Cambodia | 82.4% | 2025 |
| 7 | Korea, Dem. People's Rep. | 82.2% | 2025 |
| 8 | Uganda | 80.0% | 2025 |
| 9 | Niger | 79.7% | 2025 |
| 10 | Mozambique | 78.7% | 2025 |
About This Indicator
Definition
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.
Methodology
Data compiled by ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), uri: https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/bulk/, publisher: ILOSTAT, type: external database, date accessed: January 17, 2026.