Saudi Arabia’s drive to empower women continues to gather pace, with new official figures showing record participation in the workforce and notable achievements across education, innovation, and sports.

The Saudi Women’s Statistics Report 2024, released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), reveals that women now make up more than 9.8 million of the population, with those aged 15–34 accounting for 35.7%.

Employment among Saudi women climbed to 31.8%, while overall labor force participation reached 36%. 

Unemployment among women fell to 13% in 2024, down from 19% just two years earlier, highlighting the impact of ongoing reforms under Vision 2030. By the fourth quarter of 2024, the rate had dropped further to 11.9%.

The report highlights broad progress across multiple fields. More than one-third (35.3%) of women aged 25 and older now hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, 22 Saudi women secured patents last year, and female athletes earned nearly 2,000 local and international awards.

Women’s presence in the labor market is also diversifying, with falling unemployment rates have been matched by broader economic participation and higher employment across multiple sectors. 

The report showed that nearly one million Saudi women are employed in the private sector, over half a million in government roles, and 157,600 in public institutions.

On average, Saudi women work 39 hours per week, with monthly wages averaging from $1,287 for women aged 15–24 to $2,861 for those aged 55 and above.

Beyond the workplace, nearly 45% of Saudi women engage in regular physical activity, while cultural and recreational participation remains high—62.7% reported visiting parks and gardens.

GASTAT noted that the report draws on surveys, population data, and multiple government sources to provide policymakers with critical insights into women’s progress. 

The findings underscore how women’s empowerment has become a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s transformation agenda under Vision 2030, shaping policies to accelerate gender equality and economic growth.