Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Overview
Saudi Arabia's unemployment rate stood at 3.04% in 2025, a decline of +0.46pp from 2024. Saudi Arabia ranked 41st globally.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3.04% | −0.46pp | #41 |
| 2024 | 3.52% | −0.48pp | #59 |
| 2023 | 4.01% | −0.87pp | #74 |
| 2022 | 5.59% | −0.54pp | #104 |
| 2021 | 6.62% | −1.03pp | #107 |
| 2020 | 7.66% | +2.04pp | #115 |
| 2019 | 5.64% | −0.39pp | #104 |
| 2018 | 6.03% | +0.13pp | #110 |
| 2017 | 5.89% | +0.29pp | #103 |
| 2016 | 5.60% | +0.01pp | #89 |
| 2015 | 5.60% | −0.12pp | #85 |
| 2014 | 5.88% | +0.31pp | #88 |
| 2013 | 5.60% | +0.08pp | #83 |
| 2012 | 5.62% | −0.15pp | #84 |
| 2011 | 5.77% | +0.22pp | #85 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Saudi Arabia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2012. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
The regional economic slowdown and potential GDP losses due to Middle East escalation, as estimated by the UNDP, could exert upward pressure on Saudi Arabia's 3.04% unemployment rate by damp
Frequently Asked Questions
Saudi Arabia's unemployment rate was 3.04% in 2025. Ranked 41st globally. This represents a 13.2% decrease from the previous year.
Saudi Arabia's unemployment rate peaked at 7.66% in 2020.
The lowest unemployment rate in Saudi Arabia was 3.04% in 2025.
Saudi Arabia ranks 41st globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The unemployment rate of Saudi Arabia in 2025 was 3.04%. This ranks 41st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_saudi-arabia_unemployment-rate,
title = {Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/saudi-arabia/unemployment-rate},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}