Syrian Arab Republic Labor Force Participation
Labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.ZS
Syrian Arab Republic's labor force participation was 36.90% in 2025, ranked 177th globally. This represents a 0.2% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Syrian Arab Republic's labor force participation stood at 36.90% in 2025, a decline of +0.09pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 37.17% by 2026. Syrian Arab Republic ranked 177th globally.
Syrian Arab Republic’s labor force participation has fallen sharply from its all‑time peak of 51.00 % in 1990 to a trough of 35.91 % in 2020, before modestly rebounding to 36.90 % in 2025, a level that ranks 177th globally. The decline reflects decades of conflict, displacement and weakened institutional capacity, which have curtailed women’s and youths’ entry into the labour market and eroded formal employment opportunities. Compared with peer Afghanistan, whose participation stands at 37.46 %, Syria remains slightly lower, while Tajikistan records a higher 38.28 % and Yemen a lower 33.10 %. The 36‑year coverage shows no sign of returning to the 1990 peak, and the recent uptick is modest relative to the long‑term downward trend. Continued investment in reconstruction, vocational training and gender‑inclusive policies would be required to reverse the trajectory and sustain higher participation rates in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Labor Force Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 37.33% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 37.25% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 37.17% | - | - |
| 2025 | 36.90% | −0.09pp | #177 |
| 2024 | 36.99% | −0.14pp | #177 |
| 2023 | 37.13% | −0.20pp | #179 |
| 2022 | 37.33% | +0.99pp | #181 |
| 2021 | 36.33% | +0.42pp | #182 |
| 2020 | 35.91% | −1.93pp | #182 |
| 2019 | 37.84% | +0.05pp | #181 |
| 2018 | 37.78% | +0.04pp | #182 |
| 2017 | 37.74% | +0.03pp | #182 |
| 2016 | 37.72% | +0.01pp | #182 |
| 2015 | 37.71% | −0.02pp | #181 |
| 2014 | 37.73% | −0.05pp | #181 |
| 2013 | 37.78% | −1.42pp | #181 |
| 2012 | 39.20% | −4.20pp | #181 |
| 2011 | 43.40% | +0.70pp | #174 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Syrian Arab Republic matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2019. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw labor force participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Syrian Arab Republic's labor force participation was 36.90% in 2025. Ranked 177th globally. This represents a 0.2% decrease from the previous year.
Syrian Arab Republic's labor force participation peaked at 51.00% in 1990.
The lowest labor force participation in Syrian Arab Republic was 35.91% in 2020.
Syrian Arab Republic ranks 177th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Syrian Arab Republic's labor force participation is projected to reach 37.17% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The labor force participation of Syrian Arab Republic in 2025 was 36.90%. This ranks 177th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_syrian-arab-republic_labor-force-participation,
title = {Syrian Arab Republic Labor Force Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/syrian-arab-republic/labor-force-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}