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
50.3%
in 1991
All-time low
46.9%
in 1995
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Italy, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
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 50.3% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 46.9%, 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 | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 50.1% | — |
| 1991 | 50.3% | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 48.5% | -3.6% |
| 1993 | 48.0% | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 47.2% | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 46.9% | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 47.3% | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 47.3% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 47.6% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 47.8% | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 47.8% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 47.9% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 48.2% | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 48.6% | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 49.5% | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 48.9% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 48.9% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 48.6% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 48.9% | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 48.3% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 48.0% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 47.9% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 48.8% | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 48.5% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 48.7% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 48.6% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 49.2% | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 49.5% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 49.6% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 49.6% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 48.2% | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 48.4% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 49.0% | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 49.8% | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 49.6% | -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 62.3%, 79% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Italy's 49.3% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 60.2%, 82% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 48.1% | 46.9% | 50.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.6% | 47.8% | 49.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.8% | 47.9% | 49.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.1% | 48.2% | 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 ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 50.3% in 1991.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.9% 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 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).