Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income): Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 13.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income), 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) is 13.3%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 9.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) peaked at 14.7% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 11.0%, in 2008.
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) ranks 2nd of 47 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 12.9% | — |
| 1992 | 11.7% | -8.7% |
| 1993 | 12.8% | +8.5% |
| 1994 | 13.0% | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 13.8% | +5.6% |
| 1996 | 11.7% | -14.9% |
| 1997 | 11.8% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 11.8% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 12.1% | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 13.2% | +9.4% |
| 2001 | 13.4% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 13.7% | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 13.0% | -5.0% |
| 2004 | 12.6% | -3.1% |
| 2005 | 12.5% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 11.9% | -5.2% |
| 2007 | 11.0% | -6.9% |
| 2008 | 11.0% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 11.6% | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 12.0% | +3.4% |
| 2011 | 12.1% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 13.5% | +11.4% |
| 2013 | 13.4% | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 12.9% | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 14.7% | +14.2% |
| 2016 | 13.9% | -5.8% |
| 2017 | 14.6% | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 14.4% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 14.5% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 14.3% | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 14.7% | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 13.5% | -8.5% |
| 2023 | 13.2% | -2.3% |
| 2024 | 13.4% | +2.2% |
| 2025 | 13.3% | -1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.4% | 11.7% | 13.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 12.4% | 11.0% | 13.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.6% | 12.0% | 14.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.7% | 13.2% | 14.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)
More education data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)
- Population ages 15-64 62.0% (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 32.7% (2025)
- Number of infant deaths, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Number of under-five deaths, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Number of infant deaths, female, annual growth rate -2.68 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of infant deaths, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Number of infant deaths, male, per capita 0.0004 units per person (2024)
- Number of under-five deaths, female, annual growth rate -3.3 % change on previous year (2024)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) was 13.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 14.7% in 2015.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.0% in 2008.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) ranks 2nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.