Employment rate in Cuba
Cuba: Employment rate was 51.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment rate in Cuba, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment rate in Cuba is 51.3%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and down 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Cuba peaked at 54.6% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 47.4%, in 1993.
That places Cuba 133rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment rate in Cuba, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 47.9% | — |
| 1992 | 47.7% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 47.4% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 47.8% | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 48.3% | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 48.9% | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 49.4% | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 50.0% | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 50.2% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 50.8% | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 51.6% | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 52.0% | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 52.5% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 52.8% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 52.9% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 53.0% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 53.2% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 53.4% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 54.5% | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 53.5% | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 53.2% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 53.2% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 53.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 53.9% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 54.2% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 54.5% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 54.6% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 54.5% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 54.3% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 51.4% | -5.4% |
| 2021 | 51.7% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 52.7% | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 52.2% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 51.7% | -1.0% |
| 2025 | 51.3% | -0.7% |
Cuba compared with similar countries
- Cuba's 51.3% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 55.7%, 92% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Cuba's 51.3% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 58.1%, 88% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 48.6% | 47.4% | 50.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 52.7% | 50.8% | 54.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.9% | 53.2% | 54.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.8% | 51.3% | 52.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Cuba
More work & labour data for Cuba
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.07 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1.06 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.16 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1738 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 9,101 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,722 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,757 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,821 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,577 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate in Cuba?
- Employment rate in Cuba was 51.3% 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 Cuba?
- The highest recorded value was 54.6% in 2017.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Cuba?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.4% in 1993.
- How does Cuba rank for employment rate?
- Cuba ranks 133rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Cuba?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Cuba 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.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.