Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) was 79.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 79.9% for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 86.7% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 79.9%, in 2025.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 72nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 86.7% | — |
| 1991 | 86.1% | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 85.0% | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 83.9% | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 83.5% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 82.9% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 82.7% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 82.6% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 82.3% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 82.4% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 82.5% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 81.9% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 81.7% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 81.9% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 81.5% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 81.7% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 81.9% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 81.8% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 82.0% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 81.5% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 81.1% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 81.0% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 81.6% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 81.4% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 81.6% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 81.7% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 81.8% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 81.9% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 82.2% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 81.6% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 81.5% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 80.3% | -1.4% |
| 2022 | 80.6% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 80.7% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 80.0% | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 79.9% | -0.2% |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 79.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 80.2%, 100% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 79.9% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 79.6%, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 83.8% | 82.3% | 86.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 81.8% | 81.5% | 82.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 81.6% | 81.0% | 82.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 80.5% | 79.9% | 81.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More work & labour data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 22,956 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 60.91 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 35,770 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 4.93 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.07 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 111,361 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 100,223 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 57.91 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.47 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.4352 % change on previous year (2027)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 79.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 86.7% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 79.9% in 2025.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64)?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 72nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.