Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 65.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Least developed countries, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Least developed countries recorded 65.2% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Least developed countries peaked at 68.0% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 64.2%, in 2021.
Least developed countries ranks 36th of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 67.7% | — |
| 1991 | 67.8% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 67.8% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 67.8% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 67.9% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 67.9% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 68.0% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 68.0% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 68.0% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 68.0% | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 68.0% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 68.0% | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 67.9% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 67.9% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 67.8% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 67.8% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 67.7% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 67.6% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 67.4% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 67.3% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 67.3% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 67.3% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 66.6% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 66.7% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 66.0% | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 65.4% | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 65.0% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 65.0% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 64.9% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 64.7% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 64.3% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 64.2% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 64.6% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 65.6% | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 65.2% | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 65.2% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 67.9% | 67.7% | 68.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.7% | 67.3% | 68.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 65.9% | 64.7% | 67.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 64.8% | 64.2% | 65.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
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)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 74.8% (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, female (% of female population ages) 52.7% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 73.8% (2025)
- Contributing family workers, total (% of total employment) 19.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Least developed countries?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Least developed countries was 65.2% 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 Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 68.0% in 1998.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.2% in 2021.
- How does Least developed countries rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- Least developed countries ranks 36th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.3%. 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, 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.