Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Europe & Central Asia
Europe & Central Asia: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 59.2% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Europe & Central Asia, 1989–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Europe & Central Asia recorded 59.2% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Europe & Central Asia peaked at 60.6% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 56.8%, in 2001.
That places Europe & Central Asia 19th out of 33 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Europe & Central Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 59.9% | — |
| 1992 | 60.6% | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 60.0% | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 59.3% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 59.8% | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 58.3% | -2.5% |
| 1997 | 57.3% | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 58.0% | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 58.9% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 58.4% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 56.8% | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 57.8% | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 57.6% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 57.6% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 57.4% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 57.7% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 58.8% | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 59.3% | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 59.4% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 59.6% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 59.7% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 59.8% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 60.1% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 59.9% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 60.4% | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 60.2% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 59.6% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 59.6% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 59.2% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 57.9% | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 58.2% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 59.0% | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 59.1% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 59.3% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 59.2% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 59.9% | 59.9% | 59.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 59.0% | 57.3% | 60.6% | 8 |
| 2000s | 58.1% | 56.8% | 59.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.8% | 59.2% | 60.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.8% | 57.9% | 59.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia
More work & labour data for Europe & Central Asia
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 58.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 65.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 35.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 44.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 78.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 66.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 72.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Europe & Central Asia?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Europe & Central Asia was 59.2% in 2025, 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?
- The highest recorded value was 60.6% in 1992.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.8% in 2001.
- How does Europe & Central Asia rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Europe & Central Asia ranks 19th out of 33 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia 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.