Labor force participation rate in Cuba
Cuba: Labor force participation rate was 52.2% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
52.2%
Change on year
down 0.7%
World rank
149th
of 186 countries
All-time high
55.6%
in 2016
All-time low
52.2%
in 1993
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Cuba, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Cuba recorded 52.2% for labor force participation rate in 2025.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 5.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Cuba peaked at 55.6% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 52.2%, in 1993.
Cuba ranks 149th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Labor force participation rate in Cuba, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 52.2% | — |
| 1991 | 52.2% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 52.3% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 52.2% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 52.4% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 52.6% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 52.9% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 53.2% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 53.3% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 53.5% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 53.7% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 53.8% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 53.8% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 53.8% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 53.8% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 53.9% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 54.1% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 54.2% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 54.2% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 55.5% | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 54.8% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 54.9% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 55.1% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 55.3% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 55.4% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 55.6% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 55.6% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 55.6% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 55.5% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 55.3% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 52.6% | -4.9% |
| 2021 | 52.8% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 53.7% | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 53.2% | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 52.6% | -1.0% |
| 2025 | 52.2% | -0.7% |
Cuba compared with similar countries
- Cuba's 52.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 60.5%, 86% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Cuba's 52.2% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 63.1%, 83% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 52.7% | 52.2% | 53.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 54.1% | 53.7% | 55.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.3% | 54.8% | 55.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.8% | 52.2% | 53.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Cuba
More work & labour data for Cuba
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.07 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1.06 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.16 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1738 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 9,101 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,722 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,757 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,821 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,577 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Cuba?
- Labor force participation rate in Cuba was 52.2% 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 Cuba?
- The highest recorded value was 55.6% in 2016.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Cuba?
- The lowest recorded value was 52.2% in 1993.
- How does Cuba rank for labor force participation rate?
- Cuba ranks 149th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Cuba?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Cuba 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).