Labor force participation rate in Brazil
Brazil: Labor force participation rate was 63.1% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
63.1%
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
83rd
of 186 countries
All-time high
68.0%
in 2005
All-time low
60.5%
in 2020
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Brazil, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate in Brazil is 63.1%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Brazil peaked at 68.0% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 60.5%, in 2020.
Brazil ranks 83rd of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate in Brazil, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 64.7% | — |
| 1991 | 64.7% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 65.0% | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 65.2% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 65.5% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 65.7% | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 63.9% | -2.6% |
| 1997 | 64.8% | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 64.9% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 65.6% | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 65.8% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 66.0% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 67.0% | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 66.9% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 67.4% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 68.0% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 67.7% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 67.3% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 67.2% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 67.4% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 66.1% | -1.9% |
| 2011 | 64.9% | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 64.4% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 64.3% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 64.0% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 64.3% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 64.3% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 64.5% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 64.5% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 64.9% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 60.5% | -6.8% |
| 2021 | 62.5% | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 63.5% | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 62.9% | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 63.3% | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 63.1% | -0.3% |
Brazil compared with similar countries
- Brazil's 63.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 60.5%, 1.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Brazil's 63.1% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 63.1%, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 65.0% | 63.9% | 65.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.1% | 65.8% | 68.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 64.6% | 64.0% | 66.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.6% | 60.5% | 63.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Brazil
More work & labour data for Brazil
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7328 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.7065 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.7581 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.74 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1001 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 215,063 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 17,625 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 82,304 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 81,060 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 163,364 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Brazil?
- Labor force participation rate in Brazil was 63.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Brazil?
- The highest recorded value was 68.0% in 2005.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Brazil?
- The lowest recorded value was 60.5% in 2020.
- How does Brazil rank for labor force participation rate?
- Brazil ranks 83rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Brazil?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Brazil data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).