Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income): Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 55.3% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income), 2001–2021
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 Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) is 55.3%, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) peaked at 60.6% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 49.6%, in 2001.
Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) ranks 27th of 33 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 49.6% | — |
| 2002 | 55.2% | +11.4% |
| 2003 | 54.1% | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 53.8% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 51.2% | -4.7% |
| 2006 | 51.6% | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 55.8% | +8.1% |
| 2008 | 57.4% | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 58.1% | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 58.8% | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 58.2% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 58.1% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 59.6% | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 58.1% | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 60.6% | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 58.8% | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 60.5% | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 60.3% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 58.8% | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 55.7% | -5.3% |
| 2021 | 55.3% | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 54.1% | 49.6% | 58.1% | 9 |
| 2010s | 59.2% | 58.1% | 60.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 55.5% | 55.3% | 55.7% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
- 24 Antigua and Barbuda 72.6% compare
- 25 Viet Nam 72.4% compare
- 26 Republic of Moldova 72.4% compare
- 27 Macau, China 72.3% compare
- 28 Northern Mariana Islands 72.3% compare
- 29 Paraguay 72.0% compare
- 30 Peru 71.7% compare
More work & labour data for Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 64.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 69.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 56.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 31.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 49.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 63.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 50.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 44.0% (2025)
All data for Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) was 55.3% in 2021, 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 Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 60.6% in 2015.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.6% in 2001.
- How does Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) ranks 27th out of 33 groups with data for 2021.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) 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.