Photo: Rudolph.A.furtado · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Egypt: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Egypt is placed 154th of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 41.55 (2025); Labour Income Share 38.24 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
154th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Egypt on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
41.55
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Egypt: 41.55. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Northern Africa
- 41.55 Egypt
- Land neighbours
- Israel 63.2 · Libya 38.97
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
6.781
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Egypt: 6.781. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Northern Africa
- 6.781 Egypt
- Land neighbours
- Israel 3.489 · Libya 18.76
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
23.94
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Egypt: 23.94. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Northern Africa
- 17.94 Tunisia
- Land neighbours
- Israel 7.701 · Libya 21.59
02Over time
Which way Egypt is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
EgyptWorld median
Egypt fell from 42.07 in 2000 to 41.55 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Egypt World median 2025 41.55 57.720 2024 41.56 57.694 2023 41.65 58.158 2022 40.03 57.688 2021 39.79 56.066 2020 38.30 55.691 2019 38.89 57.871 2018 39.03 56.911 2017 39.66 56.738 2016 40.83 56.845 2015 40.85 56.788 2014 41.81 56.774 2013 42.07 56.229 2012 42.39 56.289 2011 43.01 56.297 2010 45.05 56.212 2009 43.55 56.255 2008 43.50 57.308 2007 43.71 56.933 2006 42.04 56.685 2005 40.94 56.129 2004 40.42 55.465 2003 39.32 55.630 2002 38.87 55.843 2001 40.77 56.018 2000 42.07 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
EgyptWorld median
Egypt rose from 37.35 in 2004 to 38.24 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Egypt World median 2025 38.24 46.230 2024 39.36 46.060 2023 38.62 45.900 2022 38.16 45.615 2021 40.58 45.433 2020 41.70 47.267 2019 40.62 46.277 2018 40.48 46.187 2017 40.96 46.467 2016 40.49 46.798 2015 40.23 46.876 2014 40.60 47.281 2013 38.75 46.887 2012 34.80 46.231 2011 36.22 45.679 2010 33.83 46.024 2009 33.53 47.071 2008 33.61 45.312 2007 35.08 45.246 2006 34.94 45.670 2005 35.58 46.265 2004 37.35 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
EgyptWorld median
Egypt fell from 8.98 in 2000 to 6.781 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Egypt World median 2025 6.78 5.08 2024 6.82 5.15 2023 6.75 5.21 2022 6.55 5.34 2021 7.44 6.04 2020 7.97 6.38 2019 7.85 5.36 2018 9.86 5.35 2017 11.77 5.59 2016 12.45 5.90 2015 13.05 6.41 2014 13.11 6.58 2013 13.15 6.71 2012 12.60 6.79 2011 11.85 6.90 2010 8.76 7.04 2009 9.09 6.67 2008 8.52 5.79 2007 8.80 6.00 2006 10.49 6.50 2005 11.05 7.09 2004 10.32 6.80 2003 10.91 6.95 2002 10.01 6.91 2001 9.26 6.96 2000 8.98 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
EgyptWorld median
Egypt rose from 15.21 in 2000 to 23.94 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Egypt World median 2025 23.944 28.67 2024 24.078 29.04 2023 24.300 29.33 2022 23.065 29.67 2021 23.665 30.01 2020 18.458 30.54 2019 19.507 29.98 2018 18.900 30.15 2017 21.565 29.93 2016 19.748 29.91 2015 19.655 30.26 2014 19.648 30.47 2013 20.503 31.14 2012 16.015 31.00 2011 17.306 31.41 2010 17.240 32.37 2009 18.477 32.59 2008 19.144 31.76 2007 19.623 33.47 2006 17.086 34.27 2005 17.571 34.66 2004 18.495 35.51 2003 16.545 35.90 2002 14.636 35.96 2001 12.886 35.27 2000 15.208 35.67
03In context
Egypt beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Egypt and the countries it borders
Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Israel | 15th | 63.2 | 49.44 | 3.489 | 7.701 |
| Egypt | 154th | 41.55 | 38.24 | 6.781 | 23.94 |
 Libya | =158th | 38.97 | 44.28 | 18.76 | 21.59 |
 Palestine | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Sudan | not placed | — | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Northern Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Egypt in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Egypt is ahead of the world, and behind
31 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median9
Statistics on which Egypt does better than the middle country measured.
Gini Index of Monthly EarningsILO · 2024 · world median 0.3370.2290.337▲ Improved since 2015
Egypt: 0.229 · world median 0.337 · Gini index of employees’ monthly earnings (0 = all paid the same, 1 = maximum inequality). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.182 to 0.643; lower is better.
Position 70th of 75 · derived, 1st = worst.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 9812098▲ Improved since 2015
Egypt: 120 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.8850.354.885▼ Worsened since 2015
Egypt: 0.35 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.
Trade Union DensityILO · 2020 · world median 16.6823.816.68No earlier reading
Egypt: 23.8 · world median 16.68 · Employees who are trade union members (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.2 to 91.42; higher is better.
Position 44th of 139 · derived.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.96745.9No earlier reading
Egypt: 67 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,38460,71747,384No real change since 2015
Egypt: 60,717 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 66th of 168 · derived.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1626.4422.16▲ Improved since 2015
Egypt: 26.44 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 79th of 182 · derived.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,7428,9426,742▲ Improved since 2015
Egypt: 8,942 · world median 6,742 · Agricultural value added per worker (constant 2015 US$). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 210.77 to 150,632; higher is better.
Position 68th of 151 · derived.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8141.1341.81No earlier reading
Egypt: 41.13 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 94th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median13
Statistics on which Egypt does worse than the middle country measured.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 313▲ Improved since 2015
Egypt: 1 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Low Pay RateILO · 2024 · world median 17.8920.3917.89▲ Improved since 2015
Egypt: 20.39 · world median 17.89 · Employees paid less than two-thirds of the median hourly earnings (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.395 to 41.69; lower is better.
Position 28th of 71 · derived, 1st = worst.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8318.2912.83▲ Improved since 2015
Egypt: 18.29 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 58th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Informal Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 36.7666.9736.76No earlier reading
Egypt: 66.97 · world median 36.76 · Informal employment (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.857 to 94.44; lower is better.
Position 31st of 97 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 25,2309,43425,230▼ Worsened since 2010
Egypt: 9,434 · world median 25,230 · Human capital per person — present value of future earnings (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 700.38 to 735,422; higher is better.
Position 114th of 151 · derived.
Youth Not in Education, Employment or TrainingILO · 2024 · world median 14.3123.7814.31No real change since 2014
Egypt: 23.78 · world median 14.31 · Youth not in education, employment or training (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.975 to 65.73; lower is better.
Position 22nd of 97 · derived, 1st = worst.
Average Monthly Earnings of EmployeesILO · 2024 · world median 1,636712.551,636▼ Worsened since 2015
Egypt: 712.55 · world median 1,636 · Average monthly earnings of employees (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 193.28 to 9,307; higher is better.
Position 65th of 75 · derived.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.616.051.61▲ Improved since 2015
Egypt: 6.05 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Female Share of Senior and Middle ManagementILO · 2024 · world median 35.8622.3135.86▲ Improved since 2016
Egypt: 22.31 · world median 35.86 · Women in senior and middle management (% of managers). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.226 to 56.69; higher is better.
Position 78th of 86 · derived.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6644.5761.66No real change since 2015
Egypt: 44.57 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 165th of 182 · derived.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.166.32519.16No earlier reading
Egypt: 6.325 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 164th of 179 · derived.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.077.72232.07No earlier reading
Egypt: 7.722 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3618.4553.36▼ Worsened since 2015
Egypt: 18.45 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 175th of 182 · derived.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Egypt: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end8
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8829.3618.88Moved since 2015
Egypt: 29.36 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 22nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8944.1238.89Moved since 2015
Egypt: 44.12 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 31st of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Public Sector EmploymentWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 15.0121.7715.01No earlier reading
Egypt: 21.77 · world median 15.01 · Public sector employment (% of total employment). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 1.672 to 47.1.
Position 43rd of 135 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.95863.08657.95Moved since 2022
Egypt: 863.08 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3817.5214.38Moved since 2015
Egypt: 17.52 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 83rd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Share of Temporary EmployeesILO · 2024 · world median 13.4513.4513.45Moved since 2015
Egypt: 13.45 · world median 13.45 · Employees on temporary contracts (% of employees). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.337 to 72.78.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8426.9831.84No real change since 2015
Egypt: 26.98 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 106th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5153.1259.51Moved since 2015
Egypt: 53.12 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 109th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Egypt
Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries (last 2022) and Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Egypt’s 15 topics
Work & Labour is Egypt’s 12th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Digital & Technologyjoint 47th of 1984/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality47th of 1593/3 keys
- Food & Agriculture55th of 1844/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade71st of 1774/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital97th of 1963/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainability96th of 1864/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions110th of 1944/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge121st of 1983/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing133rd of 2004/4 keys
- Peace & Security119th of 1774/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation128th of 1764/4 keys
- Work & Labour154th of 1824/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience164th of 1934/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties172nd of 1984/4 keys
- Gender & Equality162nd of 1834/4 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Egypt can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Nigeria16th4/4 keysHighest in Northern Africa
Tunisia145th4/4 keysThis page
Egypt154th4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Egypt and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Egypt on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Egypt rank on work & labour?
Egypt is placed 154th of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Egypt?
41.55 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Egypt?
38.24 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How does Egypt compare with Israel on work & labour?
Israel is placed 15th of 182, and Egypt 154th. Employment-to-Population Ratio: Israel 63.2, Egypt 41.55; Labour Income Share: Israel 49.44, Egypt 38.24; Unemployment Rate: Israel 3.489, Egypt 6.781; Vulnerable Employment: Israel 7.701, Egypt 23.94.
How have Egypt’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio fell from 42.07 in 2000 to 41.55 in 2025; Labour Income Share rose from 37.35 in 2004 to 38.24 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 8.98 in 2000 to 6.781 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment rose from 15.21 in 2000 to 23.94 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Egypt?
No current reading is published for Egypt on Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries and Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 31 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Egypt’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Egypt (banner) — Rudolph.A.furtado, CC0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Egypt: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/egypt/work