Photo: Haakon S. Krohn derivative work: JamesA · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Qatar: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Qatar is placed joint 8th 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 86.9 (2025); Labour Income Share 27.76 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
joint8th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Qatar 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
86.9
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Qatar: 86.9. 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 Western Asia
- 86.9 Qatar
- Land neighbours
- Saudi Arabia 63.12
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
0.13
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Qatar: 0.13. 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 Western Asia
- 0.13 Qatar
- Land neighbours
- Saudi Arabia 3.038
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
0.456
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Qatar: 0.456. 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 Western Asia
- 0.456 Qatar
- Land neighbours
- Saudi Arabia 1.662
02Over time
Which way Qatar 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
QatarWorld median
Qatar rose from 81.92 in 2000 to 86.9 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Qatar World median 2025 86.900 57.720 2024 87.106 57.694 2023 87.437 58.158 2022 87.461 57.688 2021 86.243 56.066 2020 86.983 55.691 2019 87.345 57.871 2018 87.407 56.911 2017 87.375 56.738 2016 87.344 56.845 2015 87.125 56.788 2014 86.574 56.774 2013 86.054 56.229 2012 85.856 56.289 2011 85.971 56.297 2010 86.169 56.212 2009 86.224 56.255 2008 85.827 57.308 2007 84.884 56.933 2006 83.018 56.685 2005 81.844 56.129 2004 81.658 55.465 2003 82.493 55.630 2002 82.222 55.843 2001 82.120 56.018 2000 81.916 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
QatarWorld median
Qatar rose from 19.92 in 2004 to 27.76 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Qatar World median 2025 27.76 46.230 2024 27.83 46.060 2023 27.95 45.900 2022 27.57 45.615 2021 27.71 45.433 2020 29.43 47.267 2019 28.09 46.277 2018 25.75 46.187 2017 28.42 46.467 2016 30.01 46.798 2015 27.22 46.876 2014 18.44 47.281 2013 17.58 46.887 2012 16.03 46.231 2011 14.95 45.679 2010 19.24 46.024 2009 22.56 47.071 2008 15.55 45.312 2007 17.88 45.246 2006 18.30 45.670 2005 17.16 46.265 2004 19.92 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
QatarWorld median
Qatar fell from 0.87 in 2000 to 0.13 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Qatar World median 2025 0.13 5.08 2024 0.13 5.15 2023 0.13 5.21 2022 0.13 5.34 2021 0.14 6.04 2020 0.14 6.38 2019 0.10 5.36 2018 0.11 5.35 2017 0.14 5.59 2016 0.15 5.90 2015 0.17 6.41 2014 0.20 6.58 2013 0.28 6.71 2012 0.48 6.79 2011 0.56 6.90 2010 0.45 7.04 2009 0.31 6.67 2008 0.31 5.79 2007 0.52 6.00 2006 0.87 6.50 2005 0.87 7.09 2004 0.87 6.80 2003 0.87 6.95 2002 0.87 6.91 2001 0.87 6.96 2000 0.87 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
QatarWorld median
Qatar rose from 0.368 in 2000 to 0.456 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Qatar World median 2025 0.4560 28.67 2024 0.4515 29.04 2023 0.4433 29.33 2022 0.4701 29.67 2021 0.4064 30.01 2020 0.5952 30.54 2019 0.4869 29.98 2018 0.2832 30.15 2017 0.2313 29.93 2016 0.2363 29.91 2015 0.2422 30.26 2014 0.2000 30.47 2013 0.2409 31.14 2012 0.3083 31.00 2011 0.3974 31.41 2010 0.6682 32.37 2009 0.8931 32.59 2008 0.4700 31.76 2007 0.5548 33.47 2006 0.5143 34.27 2005 0.3991 34.66 2004 0.5347 35.51 2003 0.5886 35.90 2002 0.5340 35.96 2001 0.4905 35.27 2000 0.3675 35.67
03In context
Qatar 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.
Qatar 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qatar | =8th | 86.9 | 27.76 | 0.13 | 0.456 |
 Saudi Arabia | 45th | 63.12 | 30.23 | 3.038 | 1.662 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Western Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Qatar in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Qatar is ahead of the world, and behind
22 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 median10
Statistics on which Qatar does better than the middle country measured.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.811.92641.81No earlier reading
Qatar: 1.926 · 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 181st of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6687.0161.66No real change since 2015
Qatar: 87.01 · 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 1st of 182 · derived.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.830.55912.83No real change since 2015
Qatar: 0.559 · 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 181st of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,384149,10547,384No real change since 2015
Qatar: 149,105 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 10th of 168 · derived.
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 25,230282,99725,230▲ Improved since 2010
Qatar: 282,997 · world median 25,230 · Human capital per person — present value of future earnings (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 700.38 to 735,422; higher is better.
Position 20th of 151 · derived.
Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed PersonsILO · 2024 · world median 0.5751.280.575No earlier reading
Qatar: 1.28 · world median 0.575 · Labour inspectors per 10,000 employed persons. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.07 to 3.89; higher is better.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1660.322.16▼ Worsened since 2015
Qatar: 60.3 · 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 33rd of 182 · derived.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3661.8553.36▲ Improved since 2015
Qatar: 61.85 · 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 38th of 182 · derived.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,74217,0576,742No real change since 2015
Qatar: 17,057 · 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 46th of 151 · derived.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 010No earlier reading
Qatar: 1 · 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.
Behind the world median6
Statistics on which Qatar does worse than the middle country measured.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 303▼ Worsened since 2015
Qatar: 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.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 985098No real change since 2015
Qatar: 50 · 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.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.9445.9No earlier reading
Qatar: 4 · 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.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.618.721.61▲ Improved since 2015
Qatar: 8.72 · 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.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.072.58632.07No earlier reading
Qatar: 2.586 · 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.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.161.42919.16No earlier reading
Qatar: 1.429 · 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 179th of 179 · derived.
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.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8838.0218.88No real change since 2015
Qatar: 38.02 · 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 2nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8945.1838.89Moved since 2015
Qatar: 45.18 · 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 20th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5160.3659.51Moved since 2015
Qatar: 60.36 · 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 89th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.95362.91657.95Moved since 2020
Qatar: 362.91 · 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 14.381.6214.38Moved since 2015
Qatar: 1.62 · 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 162nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.840.83231.84No real change since 2015
Qatar: 0.832 · 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 182nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Qatar
Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2022), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries (last 2022), Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Informal Employment Rate, 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 Qatar’s 16 topics
Work & Labour is Qatar’s best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Work & Labourjoint 8th of 1824/4 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 16th of 1933/4 keys
- Digital & Technology27th of 1983/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade27th of 1773/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality25th of 1593/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeingjoint 34th of 2003/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 59th of 1944/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital82nd of 1963/3 keys
- Peace & Security75th of 1774/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge84th of 1983/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture82nd of 1842/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation84th of 1763/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Libertiesjoint 124th of 1984/4 keys
- Energyjoint 110th of 1653/3 keys
- Gender & Equality179th of 1834/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability186th of 1863/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Qatar 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 Asia
Japan2nd4/4 keysHighest in Western Asia
Qatar=8th4/4 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 Qatar 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
Qatar 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 Qatar rank on work & labour?
Qatar is placed joint 8th 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 Qatar?
86.9 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 Qatar?
27.76 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 Qatar compare with Saudi Arabia on work & labour?
Saudi Arabia is placed 45th of 182, and Qatar joint 8th. Employment-to-Population Ratio: Saudi Arabia 63.12, Qatar 86.9; Labour Income Share: Saudi Arabia 30.23, Qatar 27.76; Unemployment Rate: Saudi Arabia 3.038, Qatar 0.13; Vulnerable Employment: Saudi Arabia 1.662, Qatar 0.456.
How have Qatar’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio rose from 81.92 in 2000 to 86.9 in 2025; Labour Income Share rose from 19.92 in 2004 to 27.76 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 0.87 in 2000 to 0.13 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment rose from 0.368 in 2000 to 0.456 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Qatar?
No current reading is published for Qatar on Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Informal Employment Rate, 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 22 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
Qatar’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Qatar (banner) — Haakon S. Krohn derivative work: JamesA, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 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). Qatar: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/qatar/work