Photo: Jialiang Gao www.peace-on-earth.org derivative work: JamesA · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Yemen: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Yemen is placed 181st 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 27.37 (2025); Labour Income Share 32.38 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
181st
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Yemen 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
27.37
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Yemen: 27.37. 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
- Oman 66.15 · Saudi Arabia 63.12
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
17.32
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Yemen: 17.32. 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
- Oman 3.251 · Saudi Arabia 3.038
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
45.59
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Yemen: 45.59. 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 Western Asia
- 0.456 Qatar
- Land neighbours
- Oman 3.813 · Saudi Arabia 1.662
02Over time
Which way Yemen 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
YemenWorld median
Yemen fell from 39.97 in 2000 to 27.37 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Yemen World median 2025 27.37 57.720 2024 27.55 57.694 2023 27.50 58.158 2022 27.34 57.688 2021 26.39 56.066 2020 26.65 55.691 2019 27.10 57.871 2018 26.87 56.911 2017 26.43 56.738 2016 26.34 56.845 2015 26.33 56.788 2014 31.99 56.774 2013 32.43 56.229 2012 33.07 56.289 2011 33.74 56.297 2010 34.64 56.212 2009 34.96 56.255 2008 35.35 57.308 2007 35.79 56.933 2006 36.25 56.685 2005 36.75 56.129 2004 37.28 55.465 2003 37.88 55.630 2002 38.55 55.843 2001 39.23 56.018 2000 39.97 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
YemenWorld median
Yemen rose from 31.32 in 2004 to 32.38 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Yemen World median 2025 32.383 46.230 2024 32.392 46.060 2023 32.446 45.900 2022 32.180 45.615 2021 31.213 45.433 2020 32.080 47.267 2019 31.613 46.277 2018 31.736 46.187 2017 32.170 46.467 2016 32.496 46.798 2015 33.822 46.876 2014 31.901 47.281 2013 31.470 46.887 2012 31.558 46.231 2011 32.525 45.679 2010 31.013 46.024 2009 31.298 47.071 2008 31.322 45.312 2007 31.351 45.246 2006 31.367 45.670 2005 31.200 46.265 2004 31.316 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
YemenWorld median
Yemen rose from 11.56 in 2000 to 17.32 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Yemen World median 2025 17.322 5.08 2024 16.970 5.15 2023 16.944 5.21 2022 17.224 5.34 2021 18.312 6.04 2020 17.963 6.38 2019 17.213 5.36 2018 17.593 5.35 2017 18.611 5.59 2016 18.420 5.90 2015 17.900 6.41 2014 13.467 6.58 2013 13.673 6.71 2012 13.473 6.79 2011 13.311 6.90 2010 12.777 7.04 2009 12.762 6.67 2008 12.656 5.79 2007 12.486 6.00 2006 12.349 6.50 2005 12.213 7.09 2004 12.131 6.80 2003 12.014 6.95 2002 11.839 6.91 2001 11.724 6.96 2000 11.557 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
YemenWorld median
Yemen rose from 42.38 in 2000 to 45.59 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Yemen World median 2025 45.590 28.67 2024 45.516 29.04 2023 45.422 29.33 2022 45.298 29.67 2021 45.140 30.01 2020 45.915 30.54 2019 45.346 29.98 2018 45.027 30.15 2017 44.553 29.93 2016 43.934 29.91 2015 43.331 30.26 2014 42.529 30.47 2013 42.345 31.14 2012 42.146 31.00 2011 41.855 31.41 2010 41.581 32.37 2009 41.648 32.59 2008 41.576 31.76 2007 41.618 33.47 2006 41.627 34.27 2005 41.685 34.66 2004 41.829 35.51 2003 41.967 35.90 2002 42.108 35.96 2001 42.251 35.27 2000 42.381 35.67
03In context
Yemen 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.
Yemen 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Oman | 43rd | 66.15 | 30.86 | 3.251 | 3.813 |
 Saudi Arabia | 45th | 63.12 | 30.23 | 3.038 | 1.662 |
| Yemen | 181st | 27.37 | 32.38 | 17.32 | 45.59 |
“—”: 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 Yemen in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Yemen is ahead of the world, and behind
18 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 median1
Statistics on which Yemen does better than the middle country measured.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.611.081.61No real change since 2015
Yemen: 1.08 · 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.
Behind the world median11
Statistics on which Yemen does worse than the middle country measured.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8143.0141.81No earlier reading
Yemen: 43.01 · 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 88th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1613.1322.16▼ Worsened since 2015
Yemen: 13.13 · 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 120th of 182 · derived.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.911.345.9No earlier reading
Yemen: 11.3 · 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.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 303▼ Worsened since 2015
Yemen: 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.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0714.2732.07No earlier reading
Yemen: 14.27 · 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.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 987098▼ Worsened since 2015
Yemen: 70 · 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.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8332.612.83▼ Worsened since 2015
Yemen: 32.6 · 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 17th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.88566.534.885▼ Worsened since 2015
Yemen: 66.53 · 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.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.161.64719.16No earlier reading
Yemen: 1.647 · 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 177th of 179 · derived.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6633.161.66No real change since 2015
Yemen: 33.1 · 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 180th of 182 · derived.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.364.66353.36No real change since 2015
Yemen: 4.663 · 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 182nd of 182 · derived.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Yemen: 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 end5
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8452.6431.84Moved since 2015
Yemen: 52.64 · 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 53rd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3831.6214.38Moved since 2015
Yemen: 31.62 · 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 54th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5157.2559.51No real change since 2015
Yemen: 57.25 · 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 98th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8811.1318.88Moved since 2015
Yemen: 11.13 · 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 157th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8923.6438.89Moved since 2015
Yemen: 23.64 · 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 182nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Yemen
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker (last 2018), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2010), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4) (last 2014), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management (last 2014), GDP per Person Employed, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2014), Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate (last 2014), Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees (last 2014), Statutory Minimum Wage, Trade Union Density and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (last 2014). 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 Yemen’s 15 topics
Work & Labour is Yemen’s 11th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability49th of 1863/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality118th of 1592/3 keys
- Energyjoint 127th of 1652/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing172nd of 2003/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital170th of 1963/3 keys
- Mobility & Tradejoint 155th of 1773/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge187th of 1983/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture175th of 1842/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions189th of 1944/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties195th of 1983/4 keys
- Work & Labour181st of 1824/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience192nd of 1933/4 keys
- Digital & Technology198th of 1983/4 keys
- Gender & Equality183rd of 1832/4 keys
- Peace & Security177th of 1773/4 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 Yemen 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
Yemen181st4/4 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 Yemen 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
Yemen 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 Yemen rank on work & labour?
Yemen is placed 181st 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 Yemen?
27.37 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 Yemen?
32.38 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 Yemen compare with Saudi Arabia on work & labour?
Saudi Arabia is placed 45th of 182, and Yemen 181st. Employment-to-Population Ratio: Saudi Arabia 63.12, Yemen 27.37; Labour Income Share: Saudi Arabia 30.23, Yemen 32.38; Unemployment Rate: Saudi Arabia 3.038, Yemen 17.32; Vulnerable Employment: Saudi Arabia 1.662, Yemen 45.59.
How have Yemen’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio fell from 39.97 in 2000 to 27.37 in 2025; Labour Income Share rose from 31.32 in 2004 to 32.38 in 2025; Unemployment Rate rose from 11.56 in 2000 to 17.32 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment rose from 42.38 in 2000 to 45.59 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Yemen?
No current reading is published for Yemen 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, 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, Trade Union Density 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 18 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
Yemen’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Yemen (banner) — Jialiang Gao www.peace-on-earth.org 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). Yemen: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/yemen/work