West Bank and Gaza — Labor participation
Labor Force Participation Rate for West Bank and Gaza, 1990–2022.
Labor participation for West Bank and Gaza was 44.99% in 2022, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 33 years, from 1990 to 2022. The latest year is also the highest value on record for this series. The lowest was 35.91% in 2002 (about 1.3× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 0.34% per year.
West Bank and Gaza ranks 167 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 89%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 44.99%, so West Bank and Gaza sits level with it. Over the last decade (2012–2022) the figure moved up 8%. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it ranks 12 of 23 economies; Egypt, Arab Rep. (44.57%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was down 9% in 2001. That is 4% above this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
World ranking. Climbed: 183rd of 187 in 1990 → 183rd of 187 in 2000 → 182nd of 187 in 2010 → 174th of 187 in 2020 → 166th of 186 in 2022.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2022
| Year | % of population ages 15+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 44.99% | +1.6 pp |
| 2021 | 43.37% | +2.4 pp |
| 2020 | 40.94% | -3.3 pp |
| 2019 | 44.27% | +0.8 pp |
| 2018 | 43.45% | -0.6 pp |
| 2017 | 44% | +0.2 pp |
| 2016 | 43.77% | -0.2 pp |
| 2015 | 43.97% | +1.8 pp |
| 2014 | 42.12% | +0.3 pp |
| 2013 | 41.8% | +0.1 pp |
| 2012 | 41.68% | +0.3 pp |
| 2011 | 41.36% | +1.4 pp |
| 2010 | 40% | +0.5 pp |
| 2009 | 39.53% | +0.2 pp |
| 2008 | 39.38% | -0.5 pp |
| 2007 | 39.92% | +1.3 pp |
| 2006 | 38.63% | -0.0 pp |
| 2005 | 38.64% | +0.4 pp |
| 2004 | 38.22% | -0.5 pp |
| 2003 | 38.76% | +2.9 pp |
| 2002 | 35.91% | -0.7 pp |
| 2001 | 36.63% | -3.6 pp |
| 2000 | 40.25% | +0.1 pp |
| 1999 | 40.13% | -0.0 pp |
| 1998 | 40.17% | -0.1 pp |
| 1997 | 40.26% | -0.1 pp |
| 1996 | 40.32% | +0.0 pp |
| 1995 | 40.29% | -0.0 pp |
| 1994 | 40.31% | -0.0 pp |
| 1993 | 40.31% | -0.0 pp |
| 1992 | 40.32% | -0.0 pp |
| 1991 | 40.35% | -0.0 pp |
| 1990 | 40.35% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was West Bank and Gaza’s Labor participation in 1991?
40.35% (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 West Bank and Gaza’s Labor participation growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2022 the series was growing overall: +11.5% in total — about 0.3% 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: 2022: 44.99%; 2021: 43.37%; 2020: 40.94%; 2019: 44.27%; 2018: 43.45%. 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.