Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 43.9% in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
43.9%
World rank
186th
of 199 countries
All-time high
47.8%
in 1997
All-time low
39.6%
in 1980
Years of data
38
1960–2020

Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Puerto Rico, 1960–2020

010203040501960199020201960: 42.21970: 39.61976: 44.91977: 44.31978: 44.41979: 441980: 39.61981: 43.31982: 42.91983: 41.61984: 41.41985: 42.31986: 41.81987: 43.11988: 45.11990: 44.61991: 45.61992: 45.61993: 47.21995: 46.11996: 46.91997: 47.81998: 47.51999: 47.42000: 45.92002: 46.22003: 46.72004: 46.62005: 47.72006: 47.22007: 462008: 44.92009: 43.22010: 41.92011: 40.52012: 41.62015: 402020: 43.9

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 Puerto Rico is 43.9%, measured in 2020.

The figure is up 4.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Puerto Rico peaked at 47.8% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 39.6%, in 1980.

Puerto Rico ranks 186th of 199 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.

Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Puerto Rico, year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Puerto Rico, 1960 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1960 42.2%
1970 39.6% -6.2%
1976 44.9% +13.4%
1977 44.3% -1.4%
1978 44.4% +0.3%
1979 44.0% -1.0%
1980 39.6% -10.0%
1981 43.3% +9.5%
1982 42.9% -1.0%
1983 41.6% -3.1%
1984 41.4% -0.5%
1985 42.3% +2.1%
1986 41.8% -1.1%
1987 43.1% +3.1%
1988 45.1% +4.8%
1990 44.6% -1.2%
1991 45.6% +2.3%
1992 45.6% -0.1%
1993 47.2% +3.5%
1995 46.1% -2.3%
1996 46.9% +1.7%
1997 47.8% +2.0%
1998 47.5% -0.5%
1999 47.4% -0.4%
2000 45.9% -3.0%
2002 46.2% +0.7%
2003 46.7% +1.0%
2004 46.6% -0.2%
2005 47.7% +2.3%
2006 47.2% -1.0%
2007 46.0% -2.5%
2008 44.9% -2.5%
2009 43.2% -3.7%
2010 41.9% -3.0%
2011 40.5% -3.3%
2012 41.6% +2.7%
2015 40.0% -3.8%
2020 43.9% +9.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 42.2% 42.2% 42.2% 1
1970s 43.5% 39.6% 44.9% 5
1980s 42.3% 39.6% 45.1% 9
1990s 46.5% 44.6% 47.8% 9
2000s 46.1% 43.2% 47.7% 9
2010s 41.0% 40.0% 41.9% 4
2020s 43.9% 43.9% 43.9% 1

Countries ranked near Puerto Rico

  1. 183 Senegal 44.6% compare
  2. 184 Morocco 44.3% compare
  3. 185 Tuvalu 43.9% compare
  4. 187 Samoa 43.8% compare
  5. 188 Syrian Arab Republic 43.4% compare
  6. 189 Algeria 41.8% compare

See the full ranking of 232 places →

More work & labour data for Puerto Rico

All data for Puerto Rico →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Puerto Rico?
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Puerto Rico was 43.9% in 2020, 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 Puerto Rico?
The highest recorded value was 47.8% in 1997.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Puerto Rico?
The lowest recorded value was 39.6% in 1980.
How does Puerto Rico rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
Puerto Rico ranks 186th out of 199 countries with data for 2020.
Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
Over the last ten years it is up 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Puerto Rico 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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Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Puerto Rico. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-total-percent-of-total-population-ages-15-national-estimate/puerto-rico-us/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
232 places, 5,713 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

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.