Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) (national estimate) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) (national estimate) was 63.1% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
63.1%
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
117th
of 174 countries
All-time high
69.0%
in 1990
All-time low
55.9%
in 1980
Years of data
46
1978–2025
Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in United Kingdom, 1978–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in United Kingdom is 63.1%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in United Kingdom peaked at 69.0% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 55.9%, in 1980.
That places United Kingdom 117th out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) (national estimate) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 55.9% | — |
| 1979 | 56.2% | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 55.9% | -0.7% |
| 1983 | 64.5% | +15.5% |
| 1984 | 65.0% | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 65.6% | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 65.1% | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 65.4% | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 67.3% | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 68.8% | +2.3% |
| 1990 | 69.0% | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 66.8% | -3.1% |
| 1992 | 64.6% | -3.4% |
| 1993 | 62.7% | -3.0% |
| 1994 | 63.1% | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 63.5% | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 63.7% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 64.6% | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 65.1% | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 59.7% | -8.2% |
| 2000 | 60.4% | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 60.6% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 60.4% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 60.6% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 65.9% | +8.7% |
| 2005 | 65.7% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 65.7% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 65.7% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 65.4% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 63.1% | -3.5% |
| 2010 | 62.7% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 62.5% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 62.6% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 62.7% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 63.8% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 64.4% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 64.8% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 64.9% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 65.3% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 65.0% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 64.0% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 62.8% | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 63.8% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 63.7% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 62.8% | -1.3% |
| 2025 | 63.1% | +0.5% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 63.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 65.0%, 97% of the median. (72 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 63.1% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 64.1%, 99% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 56.1% | 55.9% | 56.2% | 2 |
| 1980s | 64.7% | 55.9% | 68.8% | 8 |
| 1990s | 64.3% | 59.7% | 69.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 63.3% | 60.4% | 65.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 63.9% | 62.5% | 65.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.4% | 62.8% | 64.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More work & labour data for United Kingdom
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 22,956 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 60.91 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 35,770 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 4.93 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.07 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 111,361 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 100,223 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 57.91 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.47 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.4352 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in United Kingdom?
- Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) in United Kingdom was 63.1% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 69.0% in 1990.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 55.9% in 1980.
- How does United Kingdom rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%)?
- United Kingdom ranks 117th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment to population ratio, 15+, male (%) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed.