Labor force participation rate by age in Uruguay
Uruguay: Labor force participation rate by age was 46.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in Uruguay, 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 Uruguay stood at 46.9%.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and down 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Uruguay peaked at 59.6% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 42.6%, in 2020.
Uruguay ranks 61st 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 Uruguay, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 54.0% | — |
| 1991 | 53.9% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 54.2% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 54.1% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 57.5% | +6.3% |
| 1995 | 58.4% | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 57.4% | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 58.5% | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 59.6% | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 57.5% | -3.4% |
| 2000 | 58.0% | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 59.5% | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 55.1% | -7.4% |
| 2003 | 52.5% | -4.8% |
| 2004 | 52.7% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 53.1% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 53.4% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 55.0% | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 53.9% | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 54.1% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 53.6% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 54.6% | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 53.4% | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 53.3% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 53.0% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 50.6% | -4.6% |
| 2016 | 49.4% | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 48.0% | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 47.7% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 47.3% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 42.6% | -9.9% |
| 2021 | 44.7% | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 45.1% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 46.7% | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 46.9% | +0.5% |
Uruguay compared with similar countries
- Uruguay's 46.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 40.6%, 1.2× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Uruguay's 46.9% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 45.1%, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 56.5% | 53.9% | 59.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 54.7% | 52.5% | 59.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.1% | 47.3% | 54.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.2% | 42.6% | 46.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
More work & labour data for Uruguay
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.02 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.03 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.72 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.0269 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 3,567 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 95.27 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 1,144 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 1,102 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 2,246 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in Uruguay?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Uruguay was 46.9% 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 Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 59.6% in 1998.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.6% in 2020.
- How does Uruguay rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Uruguay ranks 61st out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Uruguay 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).