Labor force participation rate, total (% of total) … national 15+ in Uruguay
Uruguay: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total) … national 15+ was 65.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Uruguay, 1963–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Uruguay stood at 65.5%.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Uruguay peaked at 66.0% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 48.2%, in 1990.
Uruguay ranks 69th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total) … national 15+ in Uruguay, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 53.8% | — |
| 1975 | 53.1% | -1.3% |
| 1984 | 55.2% | +3.9% |
| 1985 | 50.8% | -7.9% |
| 1990 | 48.2% | -5.1% |
| 1991 | 57.5% | +19.3% |
| 1992 | 57.6% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 56.6% | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 58.1% | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 59.2% | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 60.3% | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 61.0% | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 59.8% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 60.2% | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 61.6% | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 60.0% | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 59.1% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 59.5% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 59.5% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 62.0% | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 63.8% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 64.0% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 64.7% | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 64.3% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 66.0% | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 65.2% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 64.8% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 65.9% | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 64.9% | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 64.6% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 64.1% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 63.7% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 63.5% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 61.1% | -3.8% |
| 2021 | 62.9% | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 63.2% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 64.6% | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 65.5% | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 65.5% | +0.1% |
Uruguay compared with similar countries
- Uruguay's 65.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 63.0%, 1.0× the median. (80 countries reporting)
- Uruguay's 65.5% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 63.2%, 1.0× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 53.8% | 53.8% | 53.8% | 1 |
| 1970s | 53.1% | 53.1% | 53.1% | 1 |
| 1980s | 53.0% | 50.8% | 55.2% | 2 |
| 1990s | 57.6% | 48.2% | 61.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 61.4% | 59.1% | 64.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 64.7% | 63.5% | 66.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.8% | 61.1% | 65.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
More work & labour data for Uruguay
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.02 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.03 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.72 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.0269 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 3,567 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 95.27 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 1,144 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 1,102 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 2,246 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Uruguay?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Uruguay 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 Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 66.0% in 2011.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.2% in 1990.
- How does Uruguay rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Uruguay ranks 69th out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Uruguay 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.