Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Netherlands
Netherlands: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 67.2% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Netherlands, 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 Netherlands stood at 67.2%.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and up 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Netherlands peaked at 67.9% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 66.1%, in 2017.
Netherlands ranks 43rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Netherlands, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 66.3% | — |
| 1991 | 66.6% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 66.7% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 66.8% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 66.8% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 66.8% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 66.9% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 67.1% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 67.3% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 67.5% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 67.8% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 67.9% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 67.9% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 67.7% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 67.4% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 67.2% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 67.2% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 67.2% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 67.2% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 66.8% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 66.5% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 66.4% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 66.8% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 66.7% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 66.2% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 66.5% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 66.3% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 66.1% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 66.4% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 66.7% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 66.5% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 66.5% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 67.2% | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 67.7% | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 67.5% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 67.2% | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 66.9% | 66.3% | 67.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.4% | 66.8% | 67.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.5% | 66.1% | 66.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 67.1% | 66.5% | 67.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
- 40 Kazakhstan 67.8% compare
- 41 Zimbabwe 67.7% compare
- 42 Kenya 67.4% compare
- 44 Côte d'Ivoire 67.1% compare
- 45 Mali 67.0% compare
- 46 Timor-Leste 67.0% compare
More work & labour data for Netherlands
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 5,256 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 66.71 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 10,535 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 130,584 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 94,797 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 64.03 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.4 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.1112 % change on previous year (2027)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Netherlands?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Netherlands was 67.2% 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 Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 67.9% in 2001.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.1% in 2017.
- How does Netherlands rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Netherlands ranks 43rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Netherlands 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.