Labor force, total in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Labor force, total was 18.38 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Labor force, total in Saudi Arabia, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force, total in Saudi Arabia is 18.38 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.8% on the previous year and up 37.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Saudi Arabia peaked at 18.38 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3.12 million, in 1990.
Saudi Arabia ranks 37th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Labor force, total in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3.12 million | — |
| 1991 | 3.28 million | +5.2% |
| 1992 | 3.45 million | +5.4% |
| 1993 | 3.61 million | +4.4% |
| 1994 | 3.76 million | +4.3% |
| 1995 | 3.92 million | +4.2% |
| 1996 | 4.07 million | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 4.23 million | +3.9% |
| 1998 | 4.39 million | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 4.56 million | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 4.89 million | +7.2% |
| 2001 | 5.14 million | +5.0% |
| 2002 | 5.43 million | +5.7% |
| 2003 | 5.79 million | +6.5% |
| 2004 | 6.18 million | +6.8% |
| 2005 | 6.60 million | +6.9% |
| 2006 | 7.07 million | +7.0% |
| 2007 | 7.55 million | +6.8% |
| 2008 | 8.07 million | +6.9% |
| 2009 | 8.59 million | +6.4% |
| 2010 | 8.92 million | +3.9% |
| 2011 | 9.79 million | +9.7% |
| 2012 | 10.68 million | +9.1% |
| 2013 | 11.71 million | +9.6% |
| 2014 | 12.33 million | +5.3% |
| 2015 | 13.35 million | +8.2% |
| 2016 | 14.10 million | +5.7% |
| 2017 | 13.67 million | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 13.34 million | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 13.66 million | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 14.67 million | +7.4% |
| 2021 | 14.62 million | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 15.47 million | +5.8% |
| 2023 | 16.71 million | +8.0% |
| 2024 | 17.53 million | +4.9% |
| 2025 | 18.38 million | +4.8% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 18.38 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.08 million, 6.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 18.38 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 4.83 million, 3.8× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.84 million | 3.12 million | 4.56 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.53 million | 4.89 million | 8.59 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.16 million | 8.92 million | 14.10 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.23 million | 14.62 million | 18.38 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More education data for Saudi Arabia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 242,375 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 26,900 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 215,559 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 214,840 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.36 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.45 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.53 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0976 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Saudi Arabia?
- Labor force, total in Saudi Arabia was 18.38 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.38 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.12 million in 1990.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for labor force, total?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 37th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. 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
Labor force comprises people 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.