Labor force participation rate in Italy
Italy: Labor force participation rate was 49.3 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
49.3
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
160th
of 186 countries
All-time high
50.33
in 1991
All-time low
46.87
in 1995
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Italy, 1990–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Italy recorded 49.3 for labor force participation rate in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and up 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Italy peaked at 50.33 in 1991 and was at its lowest, 46.87, in 1995.
That places Italy 160th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Labor force participation rate in Italy, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 50.07 | — |
| 1991 | 50.33 | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 48.52 | -3.6% |
| 1993 | 47.99 | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 47.24 | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 46.87 | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 47.27 | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 47.3 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 47.57 | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 47.8 | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 47.82 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 47.88 | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 48.24 | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 48.62 | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 49.49 | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 48.92 | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 48.88 | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 48.58 | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 48.92 | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 48.28 | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 47.99 | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 47.88 | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 48.81 | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 48.49 | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 48.73 | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 48.62 | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 49.16 | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 49.5 | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 49.62 | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 49.59 | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 48.22 | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 48.44 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 49.03 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 49.8 | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 49.59 | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 49.3 | -0.6% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 49.3 is below the median for high income countries, which is 62.28, 79% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Italy's 49.3 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 60.23, 82% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 48.1 | 46.87 | 50.33 | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.56 | 47.82 | 49.49 | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.84 | 47.88 | 49.62 | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.06 | 48.22 | 49.8 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More work & labour data for Italy
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.6708 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6794 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.662 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.03 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.0094 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 44,671 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 10,422 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 17,512 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 17,865 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 35,377 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Italy?
- Labor force participation rate in Italy was 49.3 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 50.33 in 1991.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.87 in 1995.
- How does Italy rank for labor force participation rate?
- Italy ranks 160th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Italy data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).