Labor force participation rate in Estonia
Estonia: Labor force participation rate was 65.1% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
65.1%
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
58th
of 186 countries
All-time high
68.0%
in 1990
All-time low
57.0%
in 2002
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Estonia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Estonia recorded 65.1% for labor force participation rate in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and up 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Estonia peaked at 68.0% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 57.0%, in 2002.
That places Estonia 58th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate in Estonia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 68.0% | — |
| 1991 | 66.8% | -1.8% |
| 1992 | 64.7% | -3.1% |
| 1993 | 63.2% | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 63.1% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 61.8% | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 61.2% | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 61.5% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 60.2% | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 59.0% | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 58.9% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 58.0% | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 57.0% | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 58.8% | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 58.9% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 58.6% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 60.5% | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 60.5% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 61.2% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 60.8% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 60.5% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 61.3% | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 61.3% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 61.3% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 61.1% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 61.8% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 62.6% | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 63.2% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 63.5% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 63.2% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 63.0% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 63.2% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 65.1% | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 65.6% | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 65.4% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 65.1% | -0.5% |
Estonia compared with similar countries
- Estonia's 65.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 62.3%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Estonia's 65.1% 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 | 62.9% | 59.0% | 68.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 59.3% | 57.0% | 61.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 62.0% | 60.5% | 63.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 64.6% | 63.0% | 65.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Estonia
More work & labour data for Estonia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6763 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.6638 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.77 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1039 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 885.23 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 259.52 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 417.66 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 407.84 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 825.5 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Estonia?
- Labor force participation rate in Estonia was 65.1% 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 Estonia?
- The highest recorded value was 68.0% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Estonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.0% in 2002.
- How does Estonia rank for labor force participation rate?
- Estonia ranks 58th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Estonia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Estonia 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).