Labor force participation rate by age in Estonia
Estonia: Labor force participation rate by age was 43.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in Estonia, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Estonia recorded 43.6% for labor force participation rate by age in 2024.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Estonia peaked at 53.3% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 31.9%, in 2002.
That places Estonia 74th out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate by age in Estonia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 52.6% | — |
| 1991 | 51.8% | -1.5% |
| 1992 | 50.9% | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 50.6% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 53.3% | +5.4% |
| 1995 | 49.2% | -7.7% |
| 1996 | 47.0% | -4.4% |
| 1997 | 44.5% | -5.4% |
| 1998 | 41.1% | -7.6% |
| 1999 | 37.2% | -9.4% |
| 2000 | 37.5% | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 36.1% | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 31.9% | -11.7% |
| 2003 | 39.6% | +24.0% |
| 2004 | 40.0% | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 36.3% | -9.3% |
| 2006 | 35.8% | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 38.0% | +6.2% |
| 2008 | 40.9% | +7.7% |
| 2009 | 39.1% | -4.4% |
| 2010 | 37.8% | -3.3% |
| 2011 | 40.1% | +6.0% |
| 2012 | 40.9% | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 39.8% | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 39.2% | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 40.9% | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 42.4% | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 44.1% | +3.8% |
| 2018 | 46.2% | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 43.5% | -6.0% |
| 2020 | 42.0% | -3.4% |
| 2021 | 40.3% | -4.1% |
| 2022 | 44.8% | +11.1% |
| 2023 | 43.5% | -2.7% |
| 2024 | 43.6% | +0.2% |
Estonia compared with similar countries
- Estonia's 43.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 40.6%, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Estonia's 43.6% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 37.1%, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.8% | 37.2% | 53.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.5% | 31.9% | 40.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.5% | 37.8% | 46.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 42.8% | 40.3% | 44.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Estonia
More work & labour data for Estonia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6763 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.6638 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.77 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1039 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 885.23 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 259.52 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 417.66 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 407.84 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 825.5 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in Estonia?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Estonia was 43.6% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Estonia?
- The highest recorded value was 53.3% in 1994.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Estonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.9% in 2002.
- How does Estonia rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Estonia ranks 74th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Estonia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Estonia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).