Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in European Union
European Union: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 63.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in European Union, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in European Union is 63.3%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and down 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in European Union peaked at 68.3% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 63.0%, in 2020.
That places European Union 46th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in European Union, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 68.3% | — |
| 1991 | 68.0% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 67.3% | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 66.7% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 66.3% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 65.7% | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 65.6% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 65.4% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 65.3% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 65.2% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 64.9% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 64.7% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 64.6% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 64.6% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 64.5% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 64.7% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 64.7% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 64.6% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 64.7% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 64.1% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 64.1% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 63.8% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 63.9% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 63.8% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 63.6% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 63.6% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 63.6% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 63.7% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 63.8% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 63.8% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 63.0% | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 63.3% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 63.7% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 63.8% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 63.6% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 63.3% | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 66.4% | 65.2% | 68.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 64.6% | 64.1% | 64.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 63.8% | 63.6% | 64.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.5% | 63.0% | 63.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
- 43 Maldives 76.4% compare
- 44 Dominican Republic 76.4% compare
- 45 Jamaica 76.3% compare
- 46 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 76.3% compare
- 47 Burkina Faso 76.1% compare
- 48 Colombia 75.7% compare
- 49 Singapore 75.4% compare
More work & labour data for European Union
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 75.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 81.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 57.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 38.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 70.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 43.5% (2025)
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) 16.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in European Union?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in European Union was 63.3% 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+) recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 68.3% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 63.0% in 2020.
- How does European Union rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- European Union ranks 46th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this European Union 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+) (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 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.