Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 66.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Nicaragua, 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 Nicaragua stood at 66.1%. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Nicaragua peaked at 66.1% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 57.7%, in 1993.
That places Nicaragua 54th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 58.0% | — |
| 1991 | 57.9% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 57.8% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 57.7% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 57.8% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 57.9% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 58.5% | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 59.0% | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 59.5% | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 59.8% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 60.2% | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 60.5% | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 60.9% | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 61.2% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 61.6% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 61.9% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 62.3% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 62.6% | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 62.9% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 63.3% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 63.6% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 64.0% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 64.3% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 64.6% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 65.0% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 65.1% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 65.2% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 65.3% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 65.2% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 65.0% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 64.4% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 65.3% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 65.6% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 65.9% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 66.0% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 66.1% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 58.4% | 57.7% | 59.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 61.7% | 60.2% | 63.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 64.7% | 63.6% | 65.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 65.5% | 64.4% | 66.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
More work & labour data for Nicaragua
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 1.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 1.41 % change on previous year (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 1.36 % change on previous year (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2248 % change on previous year (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.45 % change on previous year (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 3,954 1000 No (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 2,653 1000 No (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 3,468 1000 No (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 3,356 1000 No (2023)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 6,916 1000 No (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Nicaragua?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Nicaragua was 66.1% 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 Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 66.1% in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.7% in 1993.
- How does Nicaragua rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Nicaragua ranks 54th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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.