Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Germany
Germany: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 60.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Germany, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Germany recorded 60.6% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in 2025.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and up 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Germany peaked at 61.3% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 57.5%, in 2004.
Germany ranks 99th of 186 countries on this measure, 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 15+) in Germany, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 58.2% | — |
| 1991 | 59.6% | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 59.1% | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 58.5% | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 58.7% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 58.3% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 58.0% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 58.2% | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 58.2% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 58.3% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 58.0% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 57.9% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 57.8% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 57.8% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 57.5% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 58.3% | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 59.0% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 59.1% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 59.1% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 59.2% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 59.3% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 59.9% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 60.0% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 60.3% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 60.4% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 60.2% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 60.4% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 60.7% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 60.9% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 61.3% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 60.5% | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 60.4% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 60.8% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 61.0% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 60.9% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 60.6% | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 58.5% | 58.0% | 59.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.4% | 57.5% | 59.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.3% | 59.3% | 61.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.7% | 60.4% | 61.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
- 96 Philippines 61.4% compare
- 97 Russian Federation 61.1% compare
- 98 Hungary 60.6% compare
- 100 Latvia 60.5% compare
- 101 Equatorial Guinea 60.5% compare
- 102 Slovakia 60.4% compare
More work & labour data for Germany
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.0436 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.0549 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.0322 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.95 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.0388 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 66,826 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 12,413 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 35,391 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 35,508 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 70,900 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Germany?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Germany was 60.6% 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 61.3% in 2019.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.5% in 2004.
- How does Germany rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Germany ranks 99th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Germany 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.