Labor force participation rate by age in Spain
Spain: Labor force participation rate by age was 33.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in Spain, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Spain recorded 33.8% for labor force participation rate by age in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and down 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Spain peaked at 48.4% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 30.0%, in 2020.
Spain ranks 123rd of 188 countries on this measure, 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 Spain, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 47.2% | — |
| 1991 | 45.5% | -3.5% |
| 1992 | 44.7% | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 43.2% | -3.3% |
| 1994 | 43.3% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 41.6% | -3.9% |
| 1996 | 40.7% | -2.4% |
| 1997 | 40.9% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 41.2% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 42.1% | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 43.2% | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 42.5% | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 43.7% | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 44.4% | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 44.9% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 47.9% | +6.7% |
| 2006 | 48.4% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 47.9% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 47.7% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 45.1% | -5.5% |
| 2010 | 42.8% | -5.2% |
| 2011 | 40.9% | -4.3% |
| 2012 | 39.0% | -4.7% |
| 2013 | 37.9% | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 35.9% | -5.2% |
| 2015 | 34.7% | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 33.1% | -4.7% |
| 2017 | 33.4% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 33.0% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 33.0% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 30.0% | -9.2% |
| 2021 | 31.5% | +5.2% |
| 2022 | 32.6% | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 33.1% | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 33.8% | +2.2% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 33.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 40.6%, 83% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Spain's 33.8% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 37.1%, 91% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 43.0% | 40.7% | 47.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 45.6% | 42.5% | 48.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.4% | 33.0% | 42.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.2% | 30.0% | 33.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More work & labour data for Spain
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.527 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.5576 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4982 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.05 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1207 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 39,073 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,322 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 17,076 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 16,051 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 33,128 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in Spain?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Spain was 33.8% 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 48.4% in 2006.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.0% in 2020.
- How does Spain rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Spain ranks 123rd out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Spain 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).