Photo: Maher A. A. Abdussalam · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Libya: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Libya is placed joint 158th 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 38.97 (2025); Labour Income Share 44.28 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
joint158th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Libya 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
38.97
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Libya: 38.97. 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
- Algeria 36.04 · Egypt 41.55 · Niger 79.43 · Chad 58.81 · Tunisia 38.39
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
18.76
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Libya: 18.76. 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
- Algeria 11.63 · Egypt 6.781 · Niger 0.394 · Chad 1.057 · Tunisia 15.11
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
21.59
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Libya: 21.59. 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
- Algeria 25.56 · Egypt 23.94 · Niger 83.73 · Chad 90.22 · Tunisia 17.94
02Over time
Which way Libya 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
LibyaWorld median
Libya rose from 37.59 in 2000 to 38.97 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Libya World median 2025 38.966 57.720 2024 39.054 57.694 2023 39.430 58.158 2022 39.351 57.688 2021 36.471 56.066 2020 36.174 55.691 2019 39.810 57.871 2018 39.979 56.911 2017 39.930 56.738 2016 39.716 56.845 2015 39.674 56.788 2014 39.865 56.774 2013 39.789 56.229 2012 39.799 56.289 2011 39.472 56.297 2010 39.375 56.212 2009 39.037 56.255 2008 38.793 57.308 2007 38.550 56.933 2006 38.137 56.685 2005 37.943 56.129 2004 37.721 55.465 2003 37.586 55.630 2002 37.460 55.843 2001 37.512 56.018 2000 37.594 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
LibyaWorld median
Libya rose from 13.32 in 2004 to 44.28 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Libya World median 2025 44.28 46.230 2024 44.86 46.060 2023 44.51 45.900 2022 45.29 45.615 2021 45.37 45.433 2020 47.27 47.267 2019 45.46 46.277 2018 46.19 46.187 2017 51.21 46.467 2016 63.70 46.798 2015 61.67 46.876 2014 54.35 47.281 2013 36.06 46.887 2012 27.01 46.231 2011 48.59 45.679 2010 20.69 46.024 2009 21.26 47.071 2008 13.88 45.312 2007 16.08 45.246 2006 13.29 45.670 2005 13.22 46.265 2004 13.32 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
LibyaWorld median
Libya fell from 19.27 in 2000 to 18.76 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Libya World median 2025 18.758 5.08 2024 19.085 5.15 2023 18.713 5.21 2022 19.238 5.34 2021 19.779 6.04 2020 19.651 6.38 2019 19.087 5.36 2018 18.865 5.35 2017 19.053 5.59 2016 19.559 5.90 2015 19.690 6.41 2014 19.295 6.58 2013 19.311 6.71 2012 19.030 6.79 2011 19.504 6.90 2010 19.321 7.04 2009 19.290 6.67 2008 19.041 5.79 2007 18.771 6.00 2006 18.805 6.50 2005 18.660 7.09 2004 18.938 6.80 2003 19.074 6.95 2002 19.281 6.91 2001 19.239 6.96 2000 19.275 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
LibyaWorld median
Libya rose from 18.42 in 2000 to 21.59 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Libya World median 2025 21.59 28.67 2024 22.03 29.04 2023 22.27 29.33 2022 22.51 29.67 2021 22.59 30.01 2020 23.17 30.54 2019 23.39 29.98 2018 23.46 30.15 2017 23.56 29.93 2016 23.41 29.91 2015 22.67 30.26 2014 21.69 30.47 2013 20.50 31.14 2012 19.49 31.00 2011 18.70 31.41 2010 17.98 32.37 2009 17.38 32.59 2008 16.92 31.76 2007 16.72 33.47 2006 16.76 34.27 2005 16.94 34.66 2004 17.23 35.51 2003 17.54 35.90 2002 17.89 35.96 2001 18.14 35.27 2000 18.42 35.67
03In context
Libya 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.
Libya 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Niger | =95th | 79.43 | 27.76 | 0.394 | 83.73 |
 Chad | =117th | 58.81 | 39.11 | 1.057 | 90.22 |
 Tunisia | 145th | 38.39 | 49.16 | 15.11 | 17.94 |
 Egypt | 154th | 41.55 | 38.24 | 6.781 | 23.94 |
| Libya | =158th | 38.97 | 44.28 | 18.76 | 21.59 |
 Algeria | 176th | 36.04 | 30.51 | 11.63 | 25.56 |
 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 Libya in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Libya is ahead of the world, and behind
16 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 median3
Statistics on which Libya does better than the middle country measured.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,38449,52947,384No real change since 2015
Libya: 49,529 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 78th of 168 · derived.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,7428,5406,742▼ Worsened since 2015
Libya: 8,540 · world median 6,742 · Agricultural value added per worker (constant 2015 US$). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 210.77 to 150,632; higher is better.
Position 71st of 151 · derived.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1622.9122.16No real change since 2015
Libya: 22.91 · 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 86th of 182 · derived.
Behind the world median5
Statistics on which Libya does worse than the middle country measured.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 303▼ Worsened since 2015
Libya: 0 · 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.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3632.9953.36▼ Worsened since 2015
Libya: 32.99 · 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 161st of 182 · derived.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6647.9661.66▼ Worsened since 2015
Libya: 47.96 · 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 162nd of 182 · derived.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.616.491.61No real change since 2015
Libya: 6.49 · 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.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8350.0612.83No real change since 2015
Libya: 50.06 · 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 4th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Level with the median, or no median to compare2
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 989898▼ Worsened since 2015
Libya: 98 · 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.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Libya: 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 end6
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8942.438.89Moved since 2015
Libya: 42.4 · 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 46th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5171.3859.51Moved since 2015
Libya: 71.38 · 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 55th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8818.6318.88No real change since 2015
Libya: 18.63 · 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 97th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.389.99714.38No real change since 2015
Libya: 9.997 · 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 106th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.95553.23657.95Moved since 2014
Libya: 553.23 · 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.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8425.8831.84No real change since 2015
Libya: 25.88 · 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 110th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Libya
Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Employment Injury Protection Coverage, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Firms Competing Against Informal Firms, Firms Offering Formal Training, Firms with a Female Top Manager, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees, Trade Union Density, Working Poverty Rate and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. 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 Libya’s 14 topics
Work & Labour is Libya’s 6th best-placed topic of 14. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Mobility & Trade88th of 1773/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital101st of 1963/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeingjoint 110th of 2004/4 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 129th of 1934/4 keys
- Economy & Innovationjoint 151st of 1763/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 158th of 1824/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties174th of 1983/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 174th of 1983/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture166th of 1843/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions183rd of 1944/4 keys
- Gender & Equality174th of 1832/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability182nd of 1862/4 keys
- Energy164th of 1652/3 keys
- Peace & Security176th of 1773/4 keys
No standing on Education & Knowledge, Poverty & Inequality: 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 Libya 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
Libya=158th4/4 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 Libya 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
Libya 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 Libya rank on work & labour?
Libya is placed joint 158th 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 Libya?
38.97 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 Libya?
44.28 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 Libya compare with Egypt on work & labour?
Egypt is placed 154th of 182, and Libya joint 158th. Employment-to-Population Ratio: Egypt 41.55, Libya 38.97; Labour Income Share: Egypt 38.24, Libya 44.28; Unemployment Rate: Egypt 6.781, Libya 18.76; Vulnerable Employment: Egypt 23.94, Libya 21.59.
How have Libya’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio rose from 37.59 in 2000 to 38.97 in 2025; Labour Income Share rose from 13.32 in 2004 to 44.28 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 19.27 in 2000 to 18.76 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment rose from 18.42 in 2000 to 21.59 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Libya?
No current reading is published for Libya on Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Employment Injury Protection Coverage, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Firms Competing Against Informal Firms, Firms Offering Formal Training, Firms with a Female Top Manager, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees, Trade Union Density, Working Poverty Rate and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. 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 16 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
Libya’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Libya (banner) — Maher A. A. Abdussalam, 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). Libya: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/libya/work