Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 1.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Saudi Arabia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Saudi Arabia stood at 1.5%. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 18.9% on the previous year and down 47.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Saudi Arabia peaked at 7.6% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 2025.
That places Saudi Arabia 176th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7.6% | — |
| 1992 | 7.5% | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 7.2% | -4.0% |
| 1994 | 6.8% | -5.4% |
| 1995 | 6.3% | -7.4% |
| 1996 | 5.6% | -11.3% |
| 1997 | 4.9% | -12.1% |
| 1998 | 4.2% | -14.0% |
| 1999 | 3.7% | -13.6% |
| 2000 | 3.8% | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 3.9% | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 4.3% | +9.8% |
| 2003 | 4.4% | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 4.6% | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 4.7% | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 4.8% | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 4.4% | -9.6% |
| 2008 | 3.7% | -14.6% |
| 2009 | 3.8% | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 3.7% | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 3.6% | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 3.2% | -11.2% |
| 2013 | 3.2% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 3.3% | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 2.9% | -13.4% |
| 2016 | 2.9% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 3.6% | +24.3% |
| 2018 | 3.6% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 2.7% | -22.9% |
| 2020 | 4.2% | +54.0% |
| 2021 | 3.7% | -11.4% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | -22.6% |
| 2023 | 2.0% | -30.0% |
| 2024 | 1.8% | -9.4% |
| 2025 | 1.5% | -18.9% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 1.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.9%, 30% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 1.5% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 8.5%, 17% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.0% | 3.7% | 7.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 4.2% | 3.7% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.3% | 2.7% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.7% | 1.5% | 4.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 173 United Arab Emirates 1.6% compare
- 174 Timor-Leste 1.6% compare
- 175 Tonga 1.5% compare
- 177 Solomon Islands 1.4% compare
- 178 Lao People's Democratic Republic 1.4% compare
- 179 Chad 1.3% compare
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 unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Saudi Arabia?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Saudi Arabia was 1.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.6% in 1991.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 2025.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 176th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 47.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male 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.