Labor force participation rate in Guyana
Guyana: Labor force participation rate was 55.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate in Guyana, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Guyana recorded 55.0% for labor force participation rate in 2025.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Guyana peaked at 60.1% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 50.7%, in 2020.
That places Guyana 139th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Guyana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 59.5% | — |
| 1991 | 59.6% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 59.8% | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 60.1% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 59.7% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 59.3% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 58.9% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 58.5% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 58.1% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 57.6% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 57.2% | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 56.7% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 56.3% | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 56.4% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 56.5% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 56.5% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 56.5% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 56.5% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 56.5% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 56.5% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 56.4% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 56.3% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 56.2% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 56.0% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 55.9% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 55.8% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 55.7% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 55.6% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 55.8% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 52.1% | -6.7% |
| 2020 | 50.7% | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 51.2% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 54.0% | +5.5% |
| 2023 | 54.7% | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 55.1% | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 55.0% | -0.3% |
Guyana compared with similar countries
- Guyana's 55.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 62.3%, 88% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Guyana's 55.0% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 63.1%, 87% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 59.1% | 57.6% | 60.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 56.6% | 56.3% | 57.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.6% | 52.1% | 56.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.5% | 50.7% | 55.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Guyana
More work & labour data for Guyana
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4095 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.3957 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4228 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.9077 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.9156 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 295.49 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 526.41 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 455.78 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 433.17 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 888.95 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Guyana?
- Labor force participation rate in Guyana was 55.0% 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 Guyana?
- The highest recorded value was 60.1% in 1993.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Guyana?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.7% in 2020.
- How does Guyana rank for labor force participation rate?
- Guyana ranks 139th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Guyana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Guyana 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).