Unemployment rate: 6% (2017 est.)
5.6% (2016 est.)
note: data are for total population; unemployment among Saudi nationals is more than double
Definition: This entry contains the percent of the labor force that is without jobs. Substantial underemployment might be noted.
Source: CIA World Factbook - This page was last updated on Saturday, September 18, 2021
See Also- Unemployment rate by year chart
- Unemployment rate rank chart
- Unemployment rate - comparative map
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) - thematic map - World Bank indicator
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) - country comparison - World Bank indicator
- Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
Related Data From the International Monetary Fund
Variable: Unemployment rate
Note: Unemployment rate can be defined by either the national definition, the ILO harmonized definition, or the OECD harmonized definition. The OECD harmonized unemployment rate gives the number of unemployed persons as a percentage of the labor force (the total number of people employed plus unemployed). [OECD Main Economic Indicators, OECD, monthly] As defined by the International Labour Organization, unemployed workers are those who are currently not working but are willing and able to work for pay, currently available to work, and have actively searched for work. [ILO, http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/stat/res/index.htm]
Units: Percent of total labor force
Country-specific Note: Source: Ministry of Economy and/or Planning Latest actual data: 2018 Employment type: Harmonized ILO definition. unemployment rate updated to include expat workers, previously only nationals Primary domestic currency: Saudi Arabian riyal Data last updated: 02/2019
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database, April 2019
| Year | Unemployment rate | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 4.345 | |
| 2000 | 4.571 | 5.20% |
| 2001 | 4.617 | 1.01% |
| 2002 | 5.265 | 14.04% |
| 2003 | 5.562 | 5.64% |
| 2004 | 5.822 | 4.67% |
| 2005 | 6.051 | 3.93% |
| 2006 | 6.254 | 3.35% |
| 2007 | 5.645 | -9.74% |
| 2008 | 5.176 | -8.31% |
| 2009 | 5.377 | 3.88% |
| 2010 | 5.548 | 3.18% |
| 2011 | 5.772 | 4.04% |
| 2012 | 5.524 | -4.30% |
| 2013 | 5.568 | 0.80% |
| 2014 | 5.721 | 2.75% |
| 2015 | 5.591 | -2.27% |
| 2016 | 5.6 | 0.16% |
| 2017 | 6 | 7.14% |
