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

Romania: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 51.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)
51.4%
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
166th
of 199 countries
All-time high
73.2%
in 1966
All-time low
51.1%
in 2021
Years of data
34
1966–2025

Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Romania, 1966–2025

0204060801966199520251966: 73.21977: 67.21992: 59.31995: 67.21996: 64.81997: 661998: 65.11999: 64.92000: 64.42001: 63.22002: 57.82003: 55.92004: 55.62005: 53.92006: 552007: 54.82008: 54.52009: 54.42010: 54.92011: 54.12012: 54.62013: 54.52014: 54.92015: 54.52016: 53.72017: 54.92018: 552019: 55.12020: 55.12021: 51.12022: 51.82023: 51.52024: 522025: 51.4

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

In 2025, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Romania stood at 51.4%.

That represents a change of down 1.2% on the previous year and down 5.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Romania peaked at 73.2% in 1966 and was at its lowest, 51.1%, in 2021.

Romania ranks 166th of 199 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Romania, 1966 to 2025.
Year Value Change
1966 73.2%
1977 67.2% -8.2%
1992 59.3% -11.7%
1995 67.2% +13.2%
1996 64.8% -3.5%
1997 66.0% +1.8%
1998 65.1% -1.4%
1999 64.9% -0.2%
2000 64.4% -0.8%
2001 63.2% -1.9%
2002 57.8% -8.6%
2003 55.9% -3.2%
2004 55.6% -0.6%
2005 53.9% -3.0%
2006 55.0% +1.9%
2007 54.8% -0.4%
2008 54.5% -0.5%
2009 54.4% -0.1%
2010 54.9% +0.8%
2011 54.1% -1.4%
2012 54.6% +0.9%
2013 54.5% -0.1%
2014 54.9% +0.6%
2015 54.5% -0.6%
2016 53.7% -1.5%
2017 54.9% +2.3%
2018 55.0% +0.1%
2019 55.1% +0.3%
2020 55.1% -0.1%
2021 51.1% -7.3%
2022 51.8% +1.5%
2023 51.5% -0.7%
2024 52.0% +1.1%
2025 51.4% -1.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 73.2% 73.2% 73.2% 1
1970s 67.2% 67.2% 67.2% 1
1990s 64.6% 59.3% 67.2% 6
2000s 57.0% 53.9% 64.4% 10
2010s 54.6% 53.7% 55.1% 10
2020s 52.1% 51.1% 55.1% 6

Countries ranked near Romania

  1. 163 Papua New Guinea 52.0% compare
  2. 164 North Macedonia 51.9% compare
  3. 165 Tonga 51.4% compare
  4. 167 Gambia 51.3% compare
  5. 168 Guyana 51.2% compare
  6. 169 Eswatini 51.0% compare

See the full ranking of 232 places →

More work & labour data for Romania

All data for Romania →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Romania?
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Romania was 51.4% 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 Romania?
The highest recorded value was 73.2% in 1966.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Romania?
The lowest recorded value was 51.1% in 2021.
How does Romania rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
Romania ranks 166th out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Romania?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Romania 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 Romania. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-total-percent-of-total-population-ages-15-national-estimate/romania/

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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.