Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Latin America & Caribbean
Latin America & Caribbean: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 68.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Latin America & Caribbean, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Latin America & Caribbean stood at 68.9%. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Latin America & Caribbean peaked at 68.9% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 64.6%, in 1990.
That places Latin America & Caribbean 22nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Latin America & Caribbean, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 64.6% | — |
| 1991 | 64.9% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 65.2% | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 65.7% | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 66.0% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 66.3% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 65.9% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 66.8% | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 67.0% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 67.0% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 66.9% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 66.9% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 67.0% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 67.3% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 67.8% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 68.2% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 68.5% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 68.4% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 68.4% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 68.7% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 68.3% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 68.1% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 68.3% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 68.1% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 67.9% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 68.1% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 68.2% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 68.4% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 68.6% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 68.9% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 64.7% | -6.1% |
| 2021 | 67.5% | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 68.4% | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 68.5% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 68.8% | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 68.9% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 65.9% | 64.6% | 67.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.8% | 66.9% | 68.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.3% | 67.9% | 68.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 67.8% | 64.7% | 68.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Latin America & Caribbean
More work & labour data for Latin America & Caribbean
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 74.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 62.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 39.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 55.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 57.7% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 69.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 47.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 80.4% (2025)
- Contributing family workers, male (% of male employment) 2.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Latin America & Caribbean was 68.9% 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 Latin America & Caribbean?
- The highest recorded value was 68.9% in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Latin America & Caribbean?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.6% in 1990.
- How does Latin America & Caribbean rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- Latin America & Caribbean ranks 22nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) rising or falling in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Latin America & Caribbean 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.