Labor force participation rate in Denmark
Denmark: Labor force participation rate was 64.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate in Denmark, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate in Denmark stood at 64.9%.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and up 5.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Denmark peaked at 67.3% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 61.3%, in 2014.
Denmark ranks 61st of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate in Denmark, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 67.3% | — |
| 1991 | 67.2% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 67.1% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 66.4% | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 64.5% | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 65.3% | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 65.4% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 65.7% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 65.3% | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 66.1% | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 65.8% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 65.4% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 66.0% | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 65.8% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 66.1% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 65.9% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 66.3% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 65.9% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 65.2% | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 64.5% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 63.6% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 63.2% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 62.4% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 61.5% | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 61.3% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 61.4% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 61.7% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 61.8% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 61.9% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 62.4% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 62.1% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 62.7% | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 63.5% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 63.8% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 65.0% | +2.0% |
| 2025 | 64.9% | -0.2% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 64.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 62.3%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 64.9% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 60.2%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 66.0% | 64.5% | 67.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 65.7% | 64.5% | 66.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 62.1% | 61.3% | 63.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.7% | 62.1% | 65.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
More work & labour data for Denmark
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.1261 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1196 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.1326 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.51 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.3351 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 5,829 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 485.03 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,899 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,964 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,863 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Denmark?
- Labor force participation rate in Denmark was 64.9% 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 Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 67.3% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.3% in 2014.
- How does Denmark rank for labor force participation rate?
- Denmark ranks 61st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Denmark 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).