Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 49.0% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
49.0%
World rank
195th
of 196 countries
All-time high
65.7%
in 1960
All-time low
49.0%
in 2020
Years of data
37
1960–2020

Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Puerto Rico, 1960–2020

02040601960199020201960: 65.71970: 56.81976: 64.91977: 62.71978: 62.81979: 621980: 52.21981: 601982: 59.21983: 581984: 57.71985: 58.11986: 57.21987: 58.71988: 60.71990: 60.51991: 61.91992: 61.11993: 62.11995: 60.41996: 61.81997: 62.41998: 62.41999: 602000: 59.12002: 58.12003: 58.32004: 58.92005: 59.62006: 58.12007: 56.82008: 54.92010: 51.32011: 49.32012: 50.82015: 49.22020: 49

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Puerto Rico is 49.0%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 37 years on record.

That represents a change of down 4.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Puerto Rico peaked at 65.7% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 49.0%, in 2020.

That places Puerto Rico 195th out of 196 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.

Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Puerto Rico, year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Puerto Rico, 1960 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1960 65.7%
1970 56.8% -13.5%
1976 64.9% +14.3%
1977 62.7% -3.4%
1978 62.8% +0.2%
1979 62.0% -1.3%
1980 52.2% -15.8%
1981 60.0% +15.0%
1982 59.2% -1.4%
1983 58.0% -1.9%
1984 57.7% -0.5%
1985 58.1% +0.7%
1986 57.2% -1.6%
1987 58.7% +2.6%
1988 60.7% +3.4%
1990 60.5% -0.3%
1991 61.9% +2.2%
1992 61.1% -1.2%
1993 62.1% +1.6%
1995 60.4% -2.7%
1996 61.8% +2.3%
1997 62.4% +1.0%
1998 62.4% +0.0%
1999 60.0% -3.9%
2000 59.1% -1.6%
2002 58.1% -1.7%
2003 58.3% +0.5%
2004 58.9% +0.9%
2005 59.6% +1.2%
2006 58.1% -2.5%
2007 56.8% -2.3%
2008 54.9% -3.4%
2010 51.3% -6.6%
2011 49.3% -3.9%
2012 50.8% +3.0%
2015 49.2% -3.2%
2020 49.0% -0.4%

Puerto Rico compared with similar countries

  • Puerto Rico's 49.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 69.5%, 70% of the median. (79 countries reporting)
  • Puerto Rico's 49.0% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 74.0%, 66% of the median. (37 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 65.7% 65.7% 65.7% 1
1970s 61.8% 56.8% 64.9% 5
1980s 58.0% 52.2% 60.7% 9
1990s 61.4% 60.0% 62.4% 9
2000s 58.0% 54.9% 59.6% 8
2010s 50.1% 49.2% 51.3% 4
2020s 49.0% 49.0% 49.0% 1

Countries ranked near Puerto Rico

  1. 192 Timor-Leste 52.5% compare
  2. 193 Tuvalu 52.4% compare
  3. 194 Liberia 50.2% compare
  4. 196 Naoero 37.1% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Puerto Rico

All data for Puerto Rico →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Puerto Rico?
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Puerto Rico was 49.0% in 2020, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Puerto Rico?
The highest recorded value was 65.7% in 1960.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Puerto Rico?
The lowest recorded value was 49.0% in 2020.
How does Puerto Rico rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
Puerto Rico ranks 195th out of 196 countries with data for 2020.
Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
Over the last ten years it is down 4.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Puerto Rico data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Puerto Rico. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-male-percent-of-male-population-ages-15-national-estimate/puerto-rico-us/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
220 places, 5,453 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

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.