Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 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+) was 65.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 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 65.6% for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 73.8% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 65.6%, in 2025.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 132nd out of 187 countries 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 73.8% | — |
| 1991 | 73.2% | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 72.2% | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 71.0% | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 70.6% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 70.2% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 69.9% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 69.8% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 69.6% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 69.6% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 69.7% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 69.0% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 69.0% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 69.2% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 68.9% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 69.0% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 69.3% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 69.2% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 69.4% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 68.8% | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 68.5% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 68.3% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 68.4% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 68.1% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 68.1% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 68.1% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 68.0% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 67.8% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 68.0% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 67.5% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 67.1% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 66.1% | -1.4% |
| 2022 | 66.3% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 66.5% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 65.8% | -1.0% |
| 2025 | 65.6% | -0.3% |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 65.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 68.8%, 95% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 65.6% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 66.3%, 99% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 71.0% | 69.6% | 73.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 69.2% | 68.8% | 69.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.1% | 67.5% | 68.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 66.2% | 65.6% | 67.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- 129 Germany 66.1% compare
- 130 Azerbaijan 66.0% compare
- 131 Senegal 65.7% compare
- 133 Poland 65.6% compare
- 134 Luxembourg 65.5% compare
- 135 Montenegro 65.4% compare
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+) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 65.6% 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 73.8% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.6% in 2025.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 132nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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+) (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.