Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in East Asia & Pacific
East Asia & Pacific: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 68.4% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in East Asia & Pacific, 1982–2018
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in East Asia & Pacific is 68.4%, measured in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 20 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in East Asia & Pacific peaked at 75.3% in 1982 and was at its lowest, 68.4%, in 2018.
East Asia & Pacific ranks 3rd of 33 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 20 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in East Asia & Pacific, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 75.3% | — |
| 1990 | 74.0% | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 71.4% | -3.6% |
| 2001 | 72.8% | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 72.1% | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 71.6% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 71.0% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 70.8% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 70.5% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 70.5% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 70.0% | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 70.0% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 69.0% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 69.1% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 68.9% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 68.9% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 68.8% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 68.8% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 69.0% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 68.4% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 75.3% | 75.3% | 75.3% | 1 |
| 1990s | 74.0% | 74.0% | 74.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 71.1% | 70.0% | 72.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.8% | 68.4% | 69.1% | 8 |
Countries ranked near East Asia & Pacific
- 1 Qatar 88.0% compare
- 2 Tanzania, United Republic of 85.3% compare
- 3 Isle of Man 84.2% compare
- 4 Bermuda 84.0% compare
- 5 Faroe Islands 82.9% compare
- 6 Cayman Islands 82.8% compare
More work & labour data for East Asia & Pacific
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 72.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 65.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 43.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 49.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 46.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 67.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 73.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 80.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 58.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in East Asia & Pacific?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in East Asia & Pacific was 68.4% in 2018, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in East Asia & Pacific?
- The highest recorded value was 75.3% in 1982.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in East Asia & Pacific?
- The lowest recorded value was 68.4% in 2018.
- How does East Asia & Pacific rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- East Asia & Pacific ranks 3rd out of 33 groups with data for 2018.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in East Asia & Pacific?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this East Asia & Pacific data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national 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.