Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)
East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries): Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 65.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries), 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) stood at 65.1%. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 76.4% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 65.1%, in 2025.
That places East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) 11th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top 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 15+) in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 76.4% | — |
| 1991 | 76.0% | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 75.6% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 75.2% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 74.9% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 74.6% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 74.2% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 73.7% | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 73.3% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 72.9% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 72.5% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 72.3% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 71.9% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 71.6% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 71.3% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 71.0% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 70.7% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 70.7% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 70.5% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 70.2% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 70.0% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 70.1% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 69.8% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 69.3% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 69.1% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 68.8% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 68.4% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 67.9% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 67.7% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 67.3% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 65.8% | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 66.4% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 66.0% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 66.1% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 65.4% | -1.0% |
| 2025 | 65.1% | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 74.7% | 72.9% | 76.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 71.3% | 70.2% | 72.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.8% | 67.3% | 70.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 65.8% | 65.1% | 66.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)
- 8 Uganda 80.0% compare
- 9 Niger 79.7% compare
- 10 Mozambique 78.7% compare
- 11 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 78.6% compare
- 12 United Arab Emirates 78.6% compare
- 13 Eritrea 78.3% compare
- 14 Burundi 78.3% compare
More work & labour data for East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 46.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 58.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 80.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 72.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 72.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 66.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 49.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 42.8% (2025)
- Contributing family workers, female (% of female employment) 14.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) was 65.1% 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 15+) recorded in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 76.4% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.1% in 2025.
- How does East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 11th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD 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+) (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 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.