Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) was 60.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Least developed countries, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Least developed countries recorded 60.6% for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in 2025.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Least developed countries peaked at 63.8% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 59.1%, in 2021.
That places Least developed countries 15th out of 45 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 63.5% | — |
| 1992 | 63.5% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 63.5% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 63.6% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 63.7% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 63.7% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 63.8% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 63.7% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 63.6% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 63.6% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 63.5% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 63.4% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 63.4% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 63.3% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 63.3% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 63.3% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 63.1% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 62.9% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 62.8% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 62.8% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 62.7% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 62.0% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 62.1% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 61.5% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 60.9% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 60.5% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 60.3% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 60.3% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 60.2% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 59.3% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 59.1% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 59.8% | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 61.0% | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 60.6% | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 60.6% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 63.6% | 63.5% | 63.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 63.3% | 62.8% | 63.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.3% | 60.2% | 62.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.1% | 59.1% | 61.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
More work & labour data for Least developed countries
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 53.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 74.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 63.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 45.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 49.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.2% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 73.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 52.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 54.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 65.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Least developed countries?
- Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Least developed countries was 60.6% 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 Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 63.8% in 1997.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.1% in 2021.
- How does Least developed countries rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%)?
- Least developed countries ranks 15th out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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.