Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 74.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Least developed countries, 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 Least developed countries is 74.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Least developed countries peaked at 80.3% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 74.2%, in 2021.
That places Least developed countries 15th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 80.3% | — |
| 1991 | 80.3% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 80.3% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 80.3% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 80.2% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 80.2% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 80.1% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 80.1% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 80.1% | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 80.1% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 80.0% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 80.0% | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 80.0% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 80.0% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 80.0% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 80.0% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 79.8% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 79.4% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 79.0% | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 78.5% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 78.1% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 78.1% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 77.5% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 77.7% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 76.9% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 76.1% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 75.6% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 75.3% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 75.2% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 75.0% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 74.5% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 74.2% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 74.6% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 75.2% | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 74.9% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 74.8% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 80.2% | 80.1% | 80.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 79.7% | 78.5% | 80.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 76.5% | 75.0% | 78.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 74.7% | 74.2% | 75.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 12 Uganda 84.6% compare
- 13 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 84.4% compare
- 14 Nigeria 84.3% compare
- 15 Eritrea 84.1% compare
- 16 Saudi Arabia 83.3% compare
- 17 Central African Republic 82.8% compare
- 18 Indonesia 82.3% compare
More work & labour data for Least developed countries
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 53.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 63.5% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 73.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 45.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 49.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 54.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 65.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 52.7% (2025)
- Contributing family workers, total (% of total employment) 19.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Least developed countries?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Least developed countries was 74.8% 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 Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 80.3% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 74.2% in 2021.
- How does Least developed countries rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Least developed countries ranks 15th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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.