Unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - SDG 8.5.2 in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - SDG 8.5.2 was 3.52 in 2024. ▬ Flat
Unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - SDG 8.5.2 in Saudi Arabia, 1992–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 3.52 for unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2 in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is down 12.2% on the previous year and down 40.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2 in Saudi Arabia peaked at 7.66 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 3.52, in 2024.
Saudi Arabia ranks 54th of 69 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - SDG 8.5.2 in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 7.16 | — |
| 1999 | 4.35 | -39.3% |
| 2000 | 4.57 | +5.2% |
| 2001 | 4.62 | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 5.26 | +14.0% |
| 2003 | 5.56 | +5.7% |
| 2004 | 5.82 | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 6.05 | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 6.25 | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 5.73 | -8.3% |
| 2008 | 5.08 | -11.3% |
| 2009 | 5.38 | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 5.55 | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 5.62 | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 5.6 | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 5.88 | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 5.6 | -4.7% |
| 2016 | 5.6 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 5.89 | +5.2% |
| 2018 | 6.03 | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 5.64 | -6.5% |
| 2020 | 7.66 | +35.9% |
| 2021 | 6.62 | -13.6% |
| 2022 | 5.59 | -15.6% |
| 2023 | 4.01 | -28.3% |
| 2024 | 3.52 | -12.2% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 3.52 is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.67, 75% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 3.52 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.47, 37% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - SDG 8.5.2 in Saudi Arabia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | -39.3% | 7.16 | 4.35 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.75 | 4.35 | 7.16 | 2 |
| 2000s | 5.43 | 4.57 | 6.25 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.71 | 5.55 | 6.03 | 9 |
| 2020s | 5.48 | 3.52 | 7.66 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More health data for Saudi Arabia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8373 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.3736 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 483.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 829 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 5.31 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0384 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 5.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2 in Saudi Arabia?
- Unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2 in Saudi Arabia was 3.52 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2 recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.66 in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2 recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.52 in 2024.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 54th out of 69 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2 rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - SDG 8.5.2. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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