Labor force participation rate by age in Serbia
Serbia: Labor force participation rate by age was 32.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in Serbia, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Serbia recorded 32.1% for labor force participation rate by age in 2024.
That represents a change of up 2.1% on the previous year and up 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Serbia peaked at 47.6% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 27.9%, in 2010.
That places Serbia 126th 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 Serbia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 45.8% | — |
| 1991 | 47.0% | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 47.5% | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 47.6% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 47.0% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 46.0% | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 44.7% | -2.8% |
| 1997 | 43.0% | -3.9% |
| 1998 | 41.9% | -2.4% |
| 1999 | 43.9% | +4.8% |
| 2000 | 42.7% | -2.7% |
| 2001 | 41.5% | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 40.4% | -2.7% |
| 2003 | 39.6% | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 38.5% | -2.7% |
| 2005 | 37.6% | -2.4% |
| 2006 | 37.0% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 33.0% | -10.8% |
| 2008 | 32.3% | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 28.7% | -11.2% |
| 2010 | 27.9% | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 28.1% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 29.2% | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 28.4% | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 28.3% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 29.0% | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 30.1% | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 30.5% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 29.8% | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 29.4% | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 28.1% | -4.6% |
| 2021 | 32.8% | +16.9% |
| 2022 | 31.6% | -3.9% |
| 2023 | 31.4% | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 32.1% | +2.1% |
Serbia compared with similar countries
- Serbia's 32.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 38.9%, 82% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Serbia's 32.1% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 37.1%, 87% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 45.5% | 41.9% | 47.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.1% | 28.7% | 42.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.1% | 27.9% | 30.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.2% | 28.1% | 32.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Serbia
More work & labour data for Serbia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7737 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.7205 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.8268 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.14 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1128 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 5,121 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 2,326 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 1,850 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 1,852 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 3,702 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in Serbia?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Serbia was 32.1% 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 Serbia?
- The highest recorded value was 47.6% in 1993.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Serbia?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.9% in 2010.
- How does Serbia rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Serbia ranks 126th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Serbia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Serbia 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).