Labor force participation rate by age in Poland
Poland: Labor force participation rate by age was 32.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in Poland, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate by age in Poland is 32.0%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Poland peaked at 45.2% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 31.1%, in 2021.
That places Poland 129th 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 Poland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 44.0% | — |
| 1991 | 45.2% | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 44.9% | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 42.3% | -5.7% |
| 1994 | 41.6% | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 39.8% | -4.4% |
| 1996 | 39.1% | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 36.1% | -7.6% |
| 1998 | 35.4% | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 34.6% | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 37.0% | +7.0% |
| 2001 | 37.6% | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 35.8% | -4.8% |
| 2003 | 34.6% | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 33.7% | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 33.4% | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 34.3% | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 33.2% | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 33.3% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 34.0% | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 34.8% | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 33.7% | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 33.7% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 33.3% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 33.9% | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 32.9% | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 34.6% | +5.2% |
| 2017 | 34.9% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 35.1% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 35.2% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 31.9% | -9.6% |
| 2021 | 31.1% | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 31.2% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 32.2% | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 32.0% | -0.8% |
Poland compared with similar countries
- Poland's 32.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 40.6%, 79% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Poland's 32.0% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 37.1%, 86% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 40.3% | 34.6% | 45.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 34.7% | 33.2% | 37.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.2% | 32.9% | 35.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.7% | 31.1% | 32.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Poland
More work & labour data for Poland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.03 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1.03 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.04 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.28 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.0452 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 22,799 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 9,591 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 9,786 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 9,544 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 19,330 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in Poland?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Poland was 32.0% 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 Poland?
- The highest recorded value was 45.2% in 1991.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Poland?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.1% in 2021.
- How does Poland rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Poland ranks 129th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Poland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Poland 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.
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 aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).