Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in European Union
European Union: Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) was 53.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in European Union, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in European Union is 53.9%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and up 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in European Union peaked at 54.2% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 48.9%, in 1994.
That places European Union 38th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in European Union, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 51.4% | — |
| 1992 | 50.6% | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 49.4% | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 48.9% | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 48.9% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 48.9% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 49.0% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 49.3% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 49.7% | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 49.9% | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 50.1% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 50.1% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 50.2% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 50.2% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 50.6% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 51.3% | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 52.1% | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 52.4% | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 51.1% | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 50.9% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 50.8% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 50.5% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 50.3% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 50.6% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 51.0% | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 51.6% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 52.4% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 52.9% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 53.4% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 52.5% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 53.0% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 53.9% | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 54.2% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 54.2% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 53.9% | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 49.6% | 48.9% | 51.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 50.8% | 49.9% | 52.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.4% | 50.3% | 53.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.6% | 52.5% | 54.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
- 35 Indonesia 65.8% compare
- 36 Côte d'Ivoire 65.5% compare
- 37 Lao People's Democratic Republic 65.3% compare
- 38 Mali 65.1% compare
- 39 Netherlands 64.6% compare
- 40 Kazakhstan 64.5% compare
- 41 South Sudan 64.3% compare
More work & labour data for European Union
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 38.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 43.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 70.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 75.2% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 81.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 57.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 63.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in European Union?
- Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in European Union was 53.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 54.2% in 2023.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.9% in 1994.
- How does European Union rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%)?
- European Union ranks 38th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this European Union data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (modeled ILO 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.