Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Syria: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Syria is placed 179th 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 31.89 (2025); Labour Income Share 34.24 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
179th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Syria 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
31.89
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Syria: 31.89. 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
- Iraq 35.1 · Israel 63.2 · Jordan 33.43 · Türkiye 49.75
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
13.57
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Syria: 13.57. 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
- Iraq 15.48 · Israel 3.489 · Jordan 16.54 · Türkiye 8.52
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
38.86
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Syria: 38.86. 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
- Iraq 27.14 · Israel 7.701 · Jordan 7.857 · Türkiye 23.91
02Over time
Which way Syria 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
SyriaWorld median
Syria fell from 46.01 in 2000 to 31.89 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Syria World median 2025 31.89 57.720 2024 32.05 57.694 2023 32.21 58.158 2022 32.38 57.688 2021 30.93 56.066 2020 30.46 55.691 2019 32.78 57.871 2018 32.68 56.911 2017 32.61 56.738 2016 32.51 56.845 2015 32.33 56.788 2014 32.15 56.774 2013 32.30 56.229 2012 33.79 56.289 2011 39.66 56.297 2010 39.02 56.212 2009 39.45 56.255 2008 38.83 57.308 2007 40.52 56.933 2006 42.07 56.685 2005 42.47 56.129 2004 42.83 55.465 2003 43.15 55.630 2002 43.66 55.843 2001 44.15 56.018 2000 46.01 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
SyriaWorld median
Syria rose from 33.75 in 2004 to 34.24 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Syria World median 2025 34.241 46.230 2024 34.214 46.060 2023 34.258 45.900 2022 34.153 45.615 2021 33.908 45.433 2020 35.116 47.267 2019 33.670 46.277 2018 33.685 46.187 2017 33.836 46.467 2016 34.200 46.798 2015 34.082 46.876 2014 34.470 47.281 2013 35.430 46.887 2012 35.421 46.231 2011 33.678 45.679 2010 33.550 46.024 2009 33.558 47.071 2008 33.660 45.312 2007 33.790 45.246 2006 33.787 45.670 2005 33.752 46.265 2004 33.746 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
SyriaWorld median
Syria rose from 9.587 in 2000 to 13.57 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Syria World median 2025 13.569 5.08 2024 13.359 5.15 2023 13.270 5.21 2022 13.245 5.34 2021 14.887 6.04 2020 15.179 6.38 2019 13.369 5.36 2018 13.505 5.35 2017 13.603 5.59 2016 13.798 5.90 2015 14.244 6.41 2014 14.782 6.58 2013 14.500 6.71 2012 13.800 6.79 2011 8.626 6.90 2010 8.610 7.04 2009 8.140 6.67 2008 10.940 5.79 2007 8.420 6.00 2006 8.170 6.50 2005 8.810 7.09 2004 9.513 6.80 2003 10.280 6.95 2002 10.940 6.91 2001 11.630 6.96 2000 9.587 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
SyriaWorld median
Syria fell from 42.53 in 2000 to 38.86 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Syria World median 2025 38.86 28.67 2024 38.84 29.04 2023 38.83 29.33 2022 39.11 29.67 2021 38.87 30.01 2020 39.51 30.54 2019 39.02 29.98 2018 39.05 30.15 2017 38.97 29.93 2016 38.74 29.91 2015 38.10 30.26 2014 37.49 30.47 2013 35.96 31.14 2012 33.94 31.00 2011 32.94 31.41 2010 32.60 32.37 2009 34.19 32.59 2008 31.04 31.76 2007 37.77 33.47 2006 35.00 34.27 2005 36.66 34.66 2004 38.41 35.51 2003 39.84 35.90 2002 41.20 35.96 2001 42.42 35.27 2000 42.53 35.67
03In context
Syria 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.
Syria 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 |
 Jordan | 144th | 33.43 | 45.9 | 16.54 | 7.857 |
 Türkiye | 151st | 49.75 | 41.13 | 8.52 | 23.91 |
 Iraq | 168th | 35.1 | 41.38 | 15.48 | 27.14 |
| Syria | 179th | 31.89 | 34.24 | 13.57 | 38.86 |
 Lebanon | not placed | — | — | — | — |
“—”: 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 Syria in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Syria 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 median4
Statistics on which Syria does better than the middle country measured.
Trade Union DensityILO · 2020 · world median 16.6836.0116.68No earlier reading
Syria: 36.01 · 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 16th of 139 · derived.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 9812098▼ Worsened since 2015
Syria: 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.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.1622.819.16No earlier reading
Syria: 22.8 · 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 57th of 179 · derived.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.947.845.9No earlier reading
Syria: 47.8 · 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.
Behind the world median7
Statistics on which Syria does worse than the middle country measured.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.88517.94.885▼ Worsened since 2015
Syria: 17.9 · 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.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1611.122.16▼ Worsened since 2015
Syria: 11.1 · 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 128th of 182 · derived.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 303▼ Worsened since 2015
Syria: 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.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8333.112.83▼ Worsened since 2015
Syria: 33.1 · 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 16th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.616.471.61▲ Improved since 2015
Syria: 6.47 · 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.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6636.961.66No real change since 2015
Syria: 36.9 · 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 178th of 182 · derived.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3612.7353.36No real change since 2015
Syria: 12.73 · 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 179th of 182 · derived.
No better end5
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 18.8825.218.88Moved since 2015
Syria: 25.2 · 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 42nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8442.4431.84Moved since 2015
Syria: 42.44 · 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 69th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3816.314.38Moved since 2015
Syria: 16.3 · 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 85th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5158.559.51No real change since 2015
Syria: 58.5 · 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 94th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8928.5338.89Moved since 2015
Syria: 28.53 · 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 178th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Syria
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker (last 2022), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Firms Competing Against Informal Firms, Firms Offering Formal Training, GDP per Person Employed (last 2022), 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, Statutory Minimum Wage (last 2021), Unemployment Benefit Coverage 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 Syria’s 15 topics
Work & Labour is Syria’s 13th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Poverty & Inequality84th of 1593/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainability107th of 1864/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital121st of 1962/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing130th of 2002/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture156th of 1843/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge179th of 1983/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade165th of 1773/4 keys
- Digital & Technology188th of 1983/4 keys
- Energy157th of 1652/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience185th of 1933/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions186th of 1944/4 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 171st of 1773/4 keys
- Work & Labour179th of 1824/4 keys
- Gender & Equality180th of 1832/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties197th of 1984/4 keys
No standing on Economy & Innovation: 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 Syria 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 keysThis page
Syria179th4/4 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 Syria 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
Syria 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 Syria rank on work & labour?
Syria is placed 179th 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 Syria?
31.89 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 Syria?
34.24 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 Syria compare with Türkiye on work & labour?
Türkiye is placed 151st of 182, and Syria 179th. Employment-to-Population Ratio: Türkiye 49.75, Syria 31.89; Labour Income Share: Türkiye 41.13, Syria 34.24; Unemployment Rate: Türkiye 8.52, Syria 13.57; Vulnerable Employment: Türkiye 23.91, Syria 38.86.
How have Syria’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio fell from 46.01 in 2000 to 31.89 in 2025; Labour Income Share rose from 33.75 in 2004 to 34.24 in 2025; Unemployment Rate rose from 9.587 in 2000 to 13.57 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 42.53 in 2000 to 38.86 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Syria?
No current reading is published for Syria on Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker, Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Firms Competing Against Informal Firms, Firms Offering Formal Training, GDP per Person Employed, 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, Statutory Minimum Wage, Unemployment Benefit Coverage 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
Syria’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Syria (banner) — Unknown author, 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). Syria: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/syria/work