Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in World
World: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 61.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in World, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
World recorded 61.0% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in 2025.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in World peaked at 65.5% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 59.6%, in 2020.
World ranks 24th of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 65.5% | — |
| 1991 | 65.4% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 65.3% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 65.0% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 65.0% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 64.8% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 64.7% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 64.7% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 64.5% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 64.6% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 64.4% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 64.2% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 64.1% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 63.9% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 63.8% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 63.8% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 63.5% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 63.4% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 63.1% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 62.8% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 62.6% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 62.4% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 62.2% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 62.0% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 61.8% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 61.6% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 61.5% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 61.3% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 61.2% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 61.0% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 59.6% | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 60.4% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 60.7% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 61.2% | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 61.1% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 61.0% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 64.9% | 64.5% | 65.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 63.7% | 62.8% | 64.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.7% | 61.0% | 62.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.7% | 59.6% | 61.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near World
- 21 Central African Republic 73.4% compare
- 22 Kuwait 73.4% compare
- 23 Peru 72.9% compare
- 24 Viet Nam 72.8% compare
- 25 Republic of Moldova 72.3% compare
- 26 Bahrain 70.4% compare
- 27 New Zealand 70.4% compare
More work & labour data for World
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.1226 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1316 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.1143 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.688 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.1 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 6.68 million 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 3.09 million 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 5.10 million 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 5.08 million 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 10.18 million 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in World?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in World was 61.0% 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 World?
- The highest recorded value was 65.5% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in World?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.6% in 2020.
- How does World rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- World ranks 24th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this World 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.
Download this data
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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.