Labor force participation rate in Mexico
Mexico: Labor force participation rate was 61.6% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
61.6%
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
93rd
of 186 countries
All-time high
61.7%
in 2023
All-time low
56.4%
in 2020
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Mexico, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Mexico recorded 61.6% for labor force participation rate in 2025.
That represents a change of up 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Mexico peaked at 61.7% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 56.4%, in 2020.
Mexico ranks 93rd of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate in Mexico, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 58.1% | — |
| 1991 | 58.2% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 58.7% | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 59.3% | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 59.3% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 59.4% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 59.5% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 60.8% | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 60.5% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 59.7% | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 59.6% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 58.9% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 58.5% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 58.8% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 59.4% | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 60.1% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 60.9% | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 60.9% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 60.6% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 60.6% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 60.4% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 60.5% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 61.2% | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 61.0% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 60.5% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 60.6% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 60.4% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 60.2% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 60.4% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 61.1% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 56.4% | -7.7% |
| 2021 | 59.9% | +6.2% |
| 2022 | 60.9% | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 61.7% | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 61.6% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 61.6% | -0.0% |
Mexico compared with similar countries
- Mexico's 61.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 60.5%, 1.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Mexico's 61.6% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 63.1%, 98% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 59.3% | 58.1% | 60.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 59.8% | 58.5% | 60.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.6% | 60.2% | 61.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.4% | 56.4% | 61.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mexico
- 90 Zambia 61.9% compare
- 91 Argentina 61.9% compare
- 92 United States 61.7% compare
- 94 Luxembourg 61.5% compare
- 95 United Kingdom 61.4% compare
- 96 Philippines 61.4% compare
More work & labour data for Mexico
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.5786 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.5539 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.6038 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.41 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.5363 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 144,910 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 19,369 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 65,616 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 64,633 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 130,249 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Mexico?
- Labor force participation rate in Mexico was 61.6% 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 Mexico?
- The highest recorded value was 61.7% in 2023.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Mexico?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.4% in 2020.
- How does Mexico rank for labor force participation rate?
- Mexico ranks 93rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Mexico?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Mexico 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).