Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries): Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 58.1% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries), 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) recorded 58.1% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.8% on the previous year and up 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 61.9% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 56.5%, in 2006.
Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 36th of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 61.9% | — |
| 1991 | 61.8% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 61.4% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 60.2% | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 59.8% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 59.4% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 58.8% | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 58.0% | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 57.5% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 58.5% | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 58.0% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 57.4% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 57.3% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 56.9% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 56.6% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 56.6% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 56.5% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 56.8% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 57.1% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 57.1% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 57.4% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 57.6% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 57.7% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 57.7% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 57.7% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 57.9% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 58.1% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 58.1% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 58.1% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 57.8% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 56.8% | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 57.5% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 58.4% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 58.5% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 58.5% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 58.1% | -0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 59.7% | 57.5% | 61.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 57.0% | 56.5% | 58.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.8% | 57.4% | 58.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.0% | 56.8% | 58.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
- 33 Ethiopia 68.5% compare
- 34 Oman 68.4% compare
- 35 Saint Lucia 68.3% compare
- 36 Indonesia 68.0% compare
- 37 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 67.9% compare
- 38 Macau, China 67.8% compare
- 39 Congo 67.8% compare
More work & labour data for Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 48.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 68.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 29.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 41.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 35.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 71.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 69.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 60.3% (2025)
- Wage and salaried workers, total (% of total employment) 79.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) was 58.1% 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 Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 61.9% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.5% in 2006.
- How does Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 36th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia (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.