Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Germany
Germany: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 61.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Germany, 1983–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Germany stood at 61.7%.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Germany peaked at 62.0% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 54.3%, in 1983.
That places Germany 110th out of 199 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Germany, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 54.3% | — |
| 1984 | 54.9% | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 55.0% | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 55.4% | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 55.3% | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 55.8% | +0.9% |
| 1989 | 56.1% | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 58.0% | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 59.4% | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 58.7% | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 58.3% | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 58.2% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 57.7% | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 57.6% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 57.7% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 57.7% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 57.9% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 57.5% | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 57.5% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 57.3% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 57.3% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 56.9% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 58.4% | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 59.2% | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 59.2% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 59.4% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 59.7% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 59.3% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 60.1% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 60.1% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 60.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 60.4% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 60.2% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 61.0% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 61.2% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 61.3% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 62.0% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 60.6% | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 60.7% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 61.0% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 61.7% | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 61.8% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 61.7% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 55.3% | 54.3% | 56.1% | 7 |
| 1990s | 58.1% | 57.6% | 59.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.2% | 56.9% | 59.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.6% | 59.3% | 62.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.2% | 60.6% | 61.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More work & labour data for Germany
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.0436 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.0549 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.0322 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.95 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.0388 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 66,826 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 12,413 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 35,391 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 35,508 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 70,900 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Germany?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Germany was 61.7% 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 62.0% in 2019.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.3% in 1983.
- How does Germany rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Germany ranks 110th out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Germany 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.