Yemen, Republic of Labor Force Participation
Labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.ZS
Yemen, Republic of's labor force participation was 33.10% in 2025, ranked 179th globally. This represents a 0.2% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Yemen, Republic of's labor force participation stood at 33.10% in 2025, a decline of +0.08pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 33.47% by 2026. Yemen, Republic of ranked 179th globally.
Yemen’s labor force participation has fallen sharply over the past three decades, slipping from a 1990 level of 44.23% to 33.10% in 2025, which places the country 179th in global rankings. The indicator reached its all‑time high of 45.99% in 1999, shortly before the onset of prolonged conflict, and hit a trough of 32.07% in 2015 amid intensified fighting and economic collapse. By contrast, neighboring Somalia recorded a slightly higher participation rate of 33.85% in the same year, while Djibouti stood at 31.74%, illustrating that Yemen’s decline is among the steepest in the Horn of Africa. The persistent downturn reflects deteriorating security, limited job creation, and large segments of the population being displaced or engaged in informal work. If peace and reconstruction efforts succeed in restoring stability and expanding formal employment opportunities, the downward trajectory could be halted and participation rates may begin to recover in the medium term.
Data & projection
| Year | Labor Force Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 33.82% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 33.65% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 33.47% | - | - |
| 2025 | 33.10% | −0.08pp | #179 |
| 2024 | 33.19% | +0.08pp | #179 |
| 2023 | 33.11% | +0.08pp | #181 |
| 2022 | 33.03% | +0.72pp | #183 |
| 2021 | 32.31% | −0.18pp | #184 |
| 2020 | 32.49% | −0.24pp | #184 |
| 2019 | 32.73% | +0.12pp | #184 |
| 2018 | 32.61% | +0.14pp | #184 |
| 2017 | 32.47% | +0.19pp | #184 |
| 2016 | 32.28% | +0.21pp | #185 |
| 2015 | 32.07% | −4.90pp | #185 |
| 2014 | 36.97% | −0.59pp | #182 |
| 2013 | 37.56% | −0.65pp | #182 |
| 2012 | 38.21% | −0.71pp | #182 |
| 2011 | 38.92% | −0.80pp | #183 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Yemen, Republic of matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2024. 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
Yemen, Republic of's labor force participation was 33.10% in 2025. Ranked 179th globally. This represents a 0.2% decrease from the previous year.
Yemen, Republic of's labor force participation peaked at 45.99% in 1999.
The lowest labor force participation in Yemen, Republic of was 32.07% in 2015.
Yemen, Republic of ranks 179th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Yemen, Republic of's labor force participation is projected to reach 33.47% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The labor force participation of Yemen, Republic of in 2025 was 33.10%. This ranks 179th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_yemen-republic-of_labor-force-participation,
title = {Yemen, Republic of Labor Force Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/yemen-republic-of/labor-force-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}