{"version":1,"asset_type":"statistical_series","data_type":"time_series","slug":"sa-unemployment-rate-ilo","url":"https://apiardata.com/statistics/sa-unemployment-rate-ilo","html_url":"https://apiardata.com/statistics/sa-unemployment-rate-ilo/","title":"Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate (ILO, % of Labor Force) (2025)","description":"Saudi Arabia's Unemployment Rate (ILO, % of Labor Force): 3 % of labor force (ILO methodology) in 2025, -0.5pp YoY. World Bank (SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS), 1991–2025.","domain":"labor","category":"Labour & Employment","keywords":["Labour & Employment","World Bank","Saudi Arabia","2025"],"publisher":"World Bank","frequency":"Annual","geography":"Saudi Arabia","temporal_coverage":"1991/2025","unit":"% of labor force (ILO methodology)","last_updated":"2026-07-25","last_updated_text":"25 July 2026","data_as_of":"2025","variable_measured":"Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate (ILO, % of Labor Force)","license":"https://apiardata.com/data-license","is_accessible_for_free":true,"sources":[{"name":"World Bank","url":"https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS?locations=SA"}],"meta":[{"label":"Frequency","value":"Annual"},{"label":"Coverage","value":"1991–2025"},{"label":"Observations","value":"35"},{"label":"Geography","value":"Saudi Arabia"},{"label":"Last updated","value":"25 July 2026"}],"kpis":[{"label":"Saudi Arabia (2025)","value":"3","unit":"% of labor force (ILO methodology)","trend":{"direction":"down","value":"-0.5pp YoY"}},{"label":"YoY Change","value":"-0.5pp","unit":"percentage points"},{"label":"Trend","value":"down","unit":""},{"label":"Series length","value":"35","unit":"years of data"}],"series":[{"key":"value","label":"Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate (ILO, % of Labor Force)"}],"observation_count":35,"observations":[{"period":"1991","value":7.316},{"period":"1992","value":7.2},{"period":"1993","value":7.002},{"period":"1994","value":6.733},{"period":"1995","value":6.365},{"period":"1996","value":5.804},{"period":"1997","value":5.283},{"period":"1998","value":4.752},{"period":"1999","value":4.346},{"period":"2000","value":4.57},{"period":"2001","value":4.618},{"period":"2002","value":5.265},{"period":"2003","value":5.563},{"period":"2004","value":5.822},{"period":"2005","value":6.051},{"period":"2006","value":6.254},{"period":"2007","value":5.734},{"period":"2008","value":5.085},{"period":"2009","value":5.377},{"period":"2010","value":5.55},{"period":"2011","value":5.77},{"period":"2012","value":5.622},{"period":"2013","value":5.6},{"period":"2014","value":5.877},{"period":"2015","value":5.6},{"period":"2016","value":5.6},{"period":"2017","value":5.89},{"period":"2018","value":6.029},{"period":"2019","value":5.636},{"period":"2020","value":7.66},{"period":"2021","value":6.621},{"period":"2022","value":5.589},{"period":"2023","value":4.008},{"period":"2024","value":3.518},{"period":"2025","value":3.038}],"table":{"columns":[{"key":"year","label":"Year"},{"key":"value","label":"% of labor force (ILO methodology)"},{"key":"yoyChange","label":"YoY Change"}],"rows":[{"year":"2025","value":"3.0","yoyChange":"-0.5pp"},{"year":"2024","value":"3.5","yoyChange":"-0.5pp"},{"year":"2023","value":"4.0","yoyChange":"-1.6pp"},{"year":"2022","value":"5.6","yoyChange":"-1.0pp"},{"year":"2021","value":"6.6","yoyChange":"-1.1pp"},{"year":"2020","value":"7.7","yoyChange":"+2.1pp"},{"year":"2019","value":"5.6","yoyChange":"-0.4pp"},{"year":"2018","value":"6.0","yoyChange":"+0.1pp"},{"year":"2017","value":"5.9","yoyChange":"+0.3pp"},{"year":"2016","value":"5.6","yoyChange":"unchanged"},{"year":"2015","value":"5.6","yoyChange":"-0.3pp"},{"year":"2014","value":"5.9","yoyChange":"+0.3pp"},{"year":"2013","value":"5.6","yoyChange":"unchanged"},{"year":"2012","value":"5.6","yoyChange":"-0.2pp"},{"year":"2011","value":"5.8","yoyChange":"+0.3pp"},{"year":"2010","value":"5.5","yoyChange":"+0.1pp"},{"year":"2009","value":"5.4","yoyChange":"+0.3pp"},{"year":"2008","value":"5.1","yoyChange":"-0.6pp"},{"year":"2007","value":"5.7","yoyChange":"-0.6pp"},{"year":"2006","value":"6.3","yoyChange":"+0.2pp"}]},"qa":[{"question":"What does this indicator measure?","answer":"This page tracks the unemployment rate (ILO methodology) in Saudi Arabia from 1990 to present. ILO-consistent unemployment allows direct cross-country comparison of labour market slack on a standardised basis. It is published by World Bank and updated annually."},{"question":"How current is this data?","answer":"The most recent observation covers 2025. World Bank typically publishes this series with a lag of several months after the reference period. The series runs 1991–2025 (35 observations)."},{"question":"What is the long-term trend?","answer":"The series peaked at 7.7 % of labor force (ILO methodology) in 2020 and reached its lowest recorded value of 3 in 2025. The latest reading of 3 in 2025 represents a change of -0.5pp."}]}