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

World: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 58.4% in 2019. ▼ Falling

Latest (2019)
58.4%
Change on year
down 3.1%
Rank
21st
of 33 groups
All-time high
64.8%
in 2001
All-time low
58.4%
in 2019
Years of data
13
2000–2019

Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in World, 2000–2019

02040602000200920192000: 63.72001: 64.82005: 64.12009: 64.22010: 62.22011: 63.62012: 61.72013: 64.22014: 63.62015: 64.32016: 63.92018: 60.32019: 58.4

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

Analysis

In 2019, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in World stood at 58.4%. That is the lowest value across all 13 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.1% on the previous year and down 9.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in World peaked at 64.8% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 58.4%, in 2019.

That places World 21st out of 33 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national estimate) in World, 2000 to 2019.
Year Value Change
2000 63.7%
2001 64.8% +1.7%
2005 64.1% -1.0%
2009 64.2% +0.2%
2010 62.2% -3.2%
2011 63.6% +2.2%
2012 61.7% -2.9%
2013 64.2% +4.0%
2014 63.6% -0.9%
2015 64.3% +1.1%
2016 63.9% -0.7%
2018 60.3% -5.6%
2019 58.4% -3.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 64.2% 63.7% 64.8% 4
2010s 62.5% 58.4% 64.3% 9

Countries ranked near World

  1. 18 Bahamas 75.3% compare
  2. 19 Madagascar 75.0% compare
  3. 20 Angola 74.3% compare
  4. 21 Greenland 74.1% compare
  5. 22 Kuwait 73.8% compare
  6. 23 Cuba 72.9% compare
  7. 24 Antigua and Barbuda 72.6% compare

See the full ranking of 232 places →

More work & labour data for World

All data for World →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in World?
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in World was 58.4% in 2019, 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 World?
The highest recorded value was 64.8% in 2001.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in World?
The lowest recorded value was 58.4% in 2019.
How does World rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
World ranks 21st out of 33 groups with data for 2019.
Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in World?
Over the last ten years it is down 9.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this World 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 World. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-total-percent-of-total-population-ages-15-national-estimate/world/

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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.