Labor force participation rate by age in Myanmar
Myanmar: Labor force participation rate by age was 46.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in Myanmar, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, labor force participation rate by age in Myanmar stood at 46.3%.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 23.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Myanmar peaked at 81.6% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 45.3%, in 2020.
That places Myanmar 63rd 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 Myanmar, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 81.3% | — |
| 1991 | 81.6% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 80.8% | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 80.3% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 79.8% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 79.2% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 78.7% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 78.3% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 77.8% | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 76.9% | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 75.6% | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 74.6% | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 73.4% | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 72.1% | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 70.8% | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 69.4% | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 68.1% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 66.9% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 65.8% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 64.6% | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 63.6% | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 63.1% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 62.3% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 61.4% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 60.6% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 59.9% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 55.8% | -6.8% |
| 2017 | 51.6% | -7.5% |
| 2018 | 49.7% | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 46.5% | -6.3% |
| 2020 | 45.3% | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 46.6% | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 46.4% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 46.4% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 46.3% | -0.1% |
Myanmar compared with similar countries
- Myanmar's 46.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.6%, 1.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Myanmar's 46.3% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 39.8%, 1.2× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 79.5% | 76.9% | 81.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 70.1% | 64.6% | 75.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.5% | 46.5% | 63.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.2% | 45.3% | 46.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Myanmar
More work & labour data for Myanmar
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.5005 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4735 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.5269 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.19 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.46 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 29,392 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 32,967 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 25,258 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 24,401 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 49,659 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in Myanmar?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Myanmar was 46.3% 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 Myanmar?
- The highest recorded value was 81.6% in 1991.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Myanmar?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.3% in 2020.
- How does Myanmar rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Myanmar ranks 63rd out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Myanmar?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Myanmar 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).