Libya — Labor participation
Labor Force Participation Rate for Libya, 1990–2025.
Labor participation for Libya was 47.96% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 36 years, from 1990 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 49.40% in 2015. The lowest was 45.02% in 2020 (about 1.1× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 0.15% per year.
Libya ranks 164 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 88%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 44.99%, so Libya sits above it. It peaked in 2015 and has fallen 3% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 3%. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it ranks 10 of 23 economies; Tunisia (45.22%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was down 8% in 2020.
Data highlights
World ranking. Climbed: 176th of 187 in 1990 → 171st of 187 in 2000 → 162nd of 187 in 2010 → 168th of 187 in 2020 → 162nd of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2025
| Year | % of population ages 15+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 47.96% | -0.3 pp |
| 2024 | 48.27% | -0.2 pp |
| 2023 | 48.51% | -0.2 pp |
| 2022 | 48.73% | +3.3 pp |
| 2021 | 45.46% | +0.4 pp |
| 2020 | 45.02% | -4.2 pp |
| 2019 | 49.2% | -0.1 pp |
| 2018 | 49.28% | -0.1 pp |
| 2017 | 49.33% | -0.0 pp |
| 2016 | 49.37% | -0.0 pp |
| 2015 | 49.4% | +0.0 pp |
| 2014 | 49.4% | +0.1 pp |
| 2013 | 49.31% | +0.2 pp |
| 2012 | 49.15% | +0.1 pp |
| 2011 | 49.04% | +0.2 pp |
| 2010 | 48.8% | +0.4 pp |
| 2009 | 48.37% | +0.4 pp |
| 2008 | 47.92% | +0.5 pp |
| 2007 | 47.46% | +0.5 pp |
| 2006 | 46.97% | +0.3 pp |
| 2005 | 46.65% | +0.1 pp |
| 2004 | 46.53% | +0.1 pp |
| 2003 | 46.45% | +0.0 pp |
| 2002 | 46.41% | -0.0 pp |
| 2001 | 46.45% | -0.1 pp |
| 2000 | 46.57% | +0.0 pp |
| 1999 | 46.53% | +0.2 pp |
| 1998 | 46.29% | +0.2 pp |
| 1997 | 46.08% | +0.2 pp |
| 1996 | 45.91% | +0.1 pp |
| 1995 | 45.78% | +0.1 pp |
| 1994 | 45.69% | +0.1 pp |
| 1993 | 45.62% | +0.0 pp |
| 1992 | 45.58% | +0.0 pp |
| 1991 | 45.56% | +0.0 pp |
| 1990 | 45.55% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Libya’s Labor participation in 1991?
45.56% (1991). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of population ages 15+, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Libya’s Labor participation growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2025 the series was growing overall: +5.3% in total — about 0.1% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 47.96%; 2024: 48.27%; 2023: 48.51%; 2022: 48.73%; 2021: 45.46%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SL.TLF.CACT.ZS — Labor Force Participation Rate. Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.