Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Norway
Norway: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 65.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Norway, 1960–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Norway stood at 65.5%.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 7.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Norway peaked at 74.1% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 50.9%, in 1970.
Norway ranks 68th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 48 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Norway, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 52.8% | — |
| 1970 | 50.9% | -3.6% |
| 1980 | 67.4% | +32.4% |
| 1981 | 67.9% | +0.7% |
| 1982 | 67.9% | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 68.1% | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 68.3% | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 68.8% | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 70.4% | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 71.3% | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 71.1% | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 69.8% | -1.9% |
| 1990 | 69.5% | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 68.5% | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 68.4% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 68.1% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 68.5% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 69.4% | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 71.1% | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 72.7% | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 73.9% | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 73.5% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 73.8% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 73.9% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 74.1% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 72.8% | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 72.6% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 72.2% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 71.9% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 72.6% | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 73.8% | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 72.7% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 71.8% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 71.3% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 71.4% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 71.1% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 70.9% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 71.0% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 70.5% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 69.7% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 70.1% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 67.1% | -4.2% |
| 2020 | 63.8% | -4.9% |
| 2021 | 66.0% | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 65.7% | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 65.7% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 65.7% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 65.5% | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 52.8% | 52.8% | 52.8% | 1 |
| 1970s | 50.9% | 50.9% | 50.9% | 1 |
| 1980s | 69.1% | 67.4% | 71.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 70.4% | 68.1% | 73.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 73.0% | 71.9% | 74.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 70.5% | 67.1% | 71.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 65.4% | 63.8% | 66.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Norway
More work & labour data for Norway
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.2322 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.2413 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.2229 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.14 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.7506 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 6,138 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 663.52 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,690 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,724 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,414 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Norway?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Norway was 65.5% 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 Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 74.1% in 2002.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.9% in 1970.
- How does Norway rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Norway ranks 68th out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Norway 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.