Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Europe & Central Asia
Europe & Central Asia: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 58.2% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Europe & Central Asia, 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 Europe & Central Asia stood at 58.2%.
That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and up 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Europe & Central Asia peaked at 59.4% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 56.9%, in 2004.
That places Europe & Central Asia 34th 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 15+) in Europe & Central Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 59.4% | — |
| 1991 | 59.4% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 59.0% | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 58.2% | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 58.0% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 57.7% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 57.5% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 57.1% | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 57.0% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 57.6% | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 57.3% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 57.0% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 57.1% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 57.0% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 56.9% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 57.1% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 57.2% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 57.4% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 57.6% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 57.6% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 57.6% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 57.8% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 57.9% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 57.9% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 57.9% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 58.0% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 58.2% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 58.2% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 58.3% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 58.2% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 57.3% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 57.8% | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 58.5% | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 58.6% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 58.6% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 58.2% | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 58.1% | 57.0% | 59.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 57.2% | 56.9% | 57.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.0% | 57.6% | 58.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.2% | 57.3% | 58.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia
More work & labour data for Europe & Central Asia
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 65.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 35.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 44.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 66.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 78.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 72.8% (2025)
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) 14.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Europe & Central Asia?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Europe & Central Asia was 58.2% 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 15+) recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 59.4% in 1991.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.9% in 2004.
- How does Europe & Central Asia rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Europe & Central Asia ranks 34th 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?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia 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.