Employment rate in Colombia
Colombia: Employment rate was 58.1% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
58.1%
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
90th
of 186 countries
All-time high
62.2%
in 1995
All-time low
53.3%
in 2020
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Employment rate in Colombia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Colombia recorded 58.1% for employment rate in 2025.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and down 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Colombia peaked at 62.2% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 53.3%, in 2020.
Colombia ranks 90th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Employment rate in Colombia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 60.0% | — |
| 1992 | 60.6% | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 62.1% | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 62.2% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 62.2% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 60.1% | -3.4% |
| 1997 | 60.0% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 57.9% | -3.4% |
| 1999 | 53.9% | -6.9% |
| 2000 | 53.7% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 57.5% | +6.9% |
| 2002 | 57.0% | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 58.5% | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 57.5% | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 58.1% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 57.5% | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 56.7% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 56.9% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 58.9% | +3.4% |
| 2010 | 59.6% | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 60.6% | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 61.3% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 61.1% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 61.1% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 61.3% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 60.5% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 60.0% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 59.1% | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 57.7% | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 53.3% | -7.7% |
| 2021 | 55.4% | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 56.5% | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 57.6% | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 57.4% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 58.1% | +1.3% |
Colombia compared with similar countries
- Colombia's 58.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 55.7%, 1.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Colombia's 58.1% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 58.1%, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 59.9% | 53.9% | 62.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 57.2% | 53.7% | 58.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.2% | 57.7% | 61.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 56.4% | 53.3% | 58.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Colombia
More work & labour data for Colombia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7218 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6981 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.7453 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.81 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1417 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 48,629 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 6,104 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 23,624 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 23,456 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 47,081 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate in Colombia?
- Employment rate in Colombia was 58.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate recorded in Colombia?
- The highest recorded value was 62.2% in 1995.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Colombia?
- The lowest recorded value was 53.3% in 2020.
- How does Colombia rank for employment rate?
- Colombia ranks 90th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Colombia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Colombia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.