Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Italy
Italy: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 49.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Italy, 1961–2025
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 Italy is 49.9%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and up 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Italy peaked at 51.7% in 1961 and was at its lowest, 47.3%, in 1995.
Italy ranks 170th of 199 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Italy, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 51.7% | — |
| 1971 | 48.2% | -6.7% |
| 1977 | 50.1% | +3.8% |
| 1978 | 49.8% | -0.5% |
| 1979 | 50.0% | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 50.1% | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 50.4% | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 49.9% | -1.0% |
| 1983 | 50.1% | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 50.0% | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 50.0% | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 50.4% | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 50.0% | -0.7% |
| 1988 | 50.1% | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 49.9% | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 49.7% | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 50.7% | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 48.7% | -4.0% |
| 1993 | 48.2% | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 47.7% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 47.3% | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 47.4% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 47.5% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 47.8% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 48.0% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 48.1% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 48.3% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 48.8% | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 49.2% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 49.7% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 49.1% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 49.1% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 48.8% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 49.1% | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 48.5% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 48.2% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 48.1% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 49.1% | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 48.8% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 49.1% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 49.0% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 49.5% | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 49.8% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 49.8% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 49.8% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 48.4% | -2.9% |
| 2021 | 48.6% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 49.1% | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 49.9% | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 49.8% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 49.9% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 51.7% | 51.7% | 51.7% | 1 |
| 1970s | 49.5% | 48.2% | 50.1% | 4 |
| 1980s | 50.1% | 49.9% | 50.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 48.3% | 47.3% | 50.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.9% | 48.1% | 49.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.1% | 48.1% | 49.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.3% | 48.4% | 49.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More work & labour data for Italy
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.6708 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6794 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.662 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.03 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.0094 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 44,671 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 10,422 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 17,512 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 17,865 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 35,377 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Italy?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Italy was 49.9% 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 51.7% in 1961.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.3% in 1995.
- How does Italy rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Italy ranks 170th out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Italy 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.