Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 69.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Nicaragua, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Nicaragua recorded 69.0% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Nicaragua peaked at 69.0% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 59.1%, in 1993.
That places Nicaragua 97th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 59.3% | — |
| 1991 | 59.2% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 59.2% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 59.1% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 59.1% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 59.3% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 59.8% | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 60.4% | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 60.9% | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 61.4% | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 61.8% | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 62.2% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 62.6% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 63.0% | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 63.5% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 63.9% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 64.3% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 64.6% | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 65.0% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 65.4% | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 65.7% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 66.1% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 66.5% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 66.9% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 67.3% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 67.4% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 67.6% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 67.8% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 67.6% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 67.5% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 66.9% | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 67.8% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 68.3% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 68.7% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 68.9% | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 69.0% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 59.8% | 59.1% | 61.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 63.6% | 61.8% | 65.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 67.0% | 65.7% | 67.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 68.3% | 66.9% | 69.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
- 94 Dominican Republic 69.7% compare
- 95 Brunei Darussalam 69.6% compare
- 96 Colombia 69.1% compare
- 98 Mauritius 68.8% compare
- 99 Congo 68.7% compare
- 100 Lao People's Democratic Republic 68.7% compare
More work & labour data for Nicaragua
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 1.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 1.41 % change on previous year (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 1.36 % change on previous year (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2248 % change on previous year (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.45 % change on previous year (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 3,954 1000 No (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 2,653 1000 No (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 3,468 1000 No (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 3,356 1000 No (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 6,916 1000 No (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Nicaragua?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Nicaragua was 69.0% 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 Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 69.0% in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.1% in 1993.
- How does Nicaragua rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- Nicaragua ranks 97th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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.