Labor force, female in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Labor force, female was 3.47 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Labor force, female in Saudi Arabia, 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
The most recent figure for labor force, female in Saudi Arabia is 3.47 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 6.3% on the previous year and up 113.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in Saudi Arabia peaked at 3.47 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 400,535, in 1990.
That places Saudi Arabia 59th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Labor force, female in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 400,535 | — |
| 1991 | 418,024 | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 441,673 | +5.7% |
| 1993 | 472,867 | +7.1% |
| 1994 | 505,823 | +7.0% |
| 1995 | 540,721 | +6.9% |
| 1996 | 577,578 | +6.8% |
| 1997 | 616,581 | +6.8% |
| 1998 | 657,774 | +6.7% |
| 1999 | 701,372 | +6.6% |
| 2000 | 710,659 | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 718,086 | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 740,362 | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 789,908 | +6.7% |
| 2004 | 844,566 | +6.9% |
| 2005 | 904,686 | +7.1% |
| 2006 | 970,848 | +7.3% |
| 2007 | 983,797 | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 1.01 million | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 1.02 million | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 1.09 million | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 1.22 million | +12.2% |
| 2012 | 1.32 million | +8.3% |
| 2013 | 1.39 million | +5.4% |
| 2014 | 1.45 million | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 1.63 million | +11.8% |
| 2016 | 1.79 million | +9.7% |
| 2017 | 1.57 million | -12.2% |
| 2018 | 1.71 million | +8.9% |
| 2019 | 1.93 million | +12.7% |
| 2020 | 2.46 million | +27.9% |
| 2021 | 2.83 million | +15.1% |
| 2022 | 2.98 million | +5.2% |
| 2023 | 3.18 million | +6.7% |
| 2024 | 3.27 million | +2.7% |
| 2025 | 3.47 million | +6.3% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 3.47 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.45 million, 2.4× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 3.47 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 888,389, 3.9× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Labor force, female in Saudi Arabia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +27.9% | 1.93 million | 2.46 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 533,295 | 400,535 | 701,372 | 10 |
| 2000s | 869,236 | 710,659 | 1.02 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.51 million | 1.09 million | 1.93 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.03 million | 2.46 million | 3.47 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More gender data for Saudi Arabia
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 8,519 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.7629 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 28,924 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 28,924 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.65 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 275,243 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 288,722 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 275,525 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 288,548 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 263,011 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in Saudi Arabia?
- Labor force, female in Saudi Arabia was 3.47 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.47 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 400,535 in 1990.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for labor force, female?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 59th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 113.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.