Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Europe & Central Asia
Europe & Central Asia: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 72.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Europe & Central Asia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Europe & Central Asia recorded 72.8% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in 2025.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Europe & Central Asia peaked at 72.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 67.0%, in 1998.
That places Europe & Central Asia 12th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Europe & Central Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 68.7% | — |
| 1991 | 68.9% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 68.6% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 67.9% | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 67.8% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 67.6% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 67.4% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 67.1% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 67.0% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 67.7% | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 67.6% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 67.3% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 67.5% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 67.6% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 67.7% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 68.0% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 68.2% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 68.5% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 68.7% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 68.6% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 68.7% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 68.9% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 69.2% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 69.4% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 69.7% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 70.0% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 70.4% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 70.7% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 71.0% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 71.1% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 70.3% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 71.1% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 72.2% | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 72.7% | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 72.9% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 72.8% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 67.9% | 67.0% | 68.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 68.0% | 67.3% | 68.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.9% | 68.7% | 71.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 72.0% | 70.3% | 72.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia
More work & labour data for Europe & Central Asia
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 65.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 58.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 35.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 44.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 66.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 78.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.3% (2025)
- Contributing family workers, male (% of male employment) 1.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Europe & Central Asia?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Europe & Central Asia was 72.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 72.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 67.0% in 1998.
- How does Europe & Central Asia rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- Europe & Central Asia ranks 12th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, total (% of total 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.