Labor force, female in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan: Labor force, female was 53.25 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, female in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 1990–2025
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, female in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan stood at 53.25 million. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 14.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan peaked at 53.25 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 16.35 million, in 1990.
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 38th of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, female in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 16.35 million | — |
| 1991 | 17.78 million | +8.7% |
| 1992 | 18.64 million | +4.8% |
| 1993 | 19.30 million | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 20.32 million | +5.3% |
| 1995 | 20.13 million | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 21.18 million | +5.2% |
| 1997 | 22.36 million | +5.6% |
| 1998 | 23.32 million | +4.3% |
| 1999 | 24.88 million | +6.7% |
| 2000 | 26.16 million | +5.1% |
| 2001 | 27.17 million | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 27.65 million | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 29.34 million | +6.1% |
| 2004 | 31.11 million | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 32.90 million | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 34.36 million | +4.4% |
| 2007 | 36.00 million | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 36.37 million | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 38.60 million | +6.1% |
| 2010 | 40.14 million | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 40.75 million | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 42.18 million | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 43.13 million | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 44.34 million | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 46.43 million | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 47.62 million | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 47.50 million | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 46.53 million | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 47.67 million | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 46.82 million | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 48.58 million | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 48.79 million | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 51.25 million | +5.0% |
| 2024 | 52.01 million | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 53.25 million | +2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20.43 million | 16.35 million | 24.88 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 31.97 million | 26.16 million | 38.60 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.63 million | 40.14 million | 47.67 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.12 million | 46.82 million | 53.25 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
More gender data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- Labor force, female, per capita 0.0643 units per person (2025)
- Labor force, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Labor force, female, annual growth rate 2.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Labor force, female, per square kilometre 4.05 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (% ages 15-24) 170.9% (2025)
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, female 13.02 years (2018)
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, male 13.36 years (2018)
- Proportion of women in ministerial level positions 13.5% (2025)
- Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) 13.1% (2016)
- Own-account workers, male (% of male employment) 21.3% (2016)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan →
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Labor force, female in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan was 53.25 million in 2025, according to World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division.
- What is the highest labor force, female recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 53.25 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.35 million in 1990.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan rank for labor force, female?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 38th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division, published as part of Labor force, female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Female labor force comprises women ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.