Labor force participation rate in Netherlands
Netherlands: Labor force participation rate was 67.2% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
67.2%
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
43rd
of 186 countries
All-time high
67.9%
in 2001
All-time low
66.1%
in 2017
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Netherlands, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate in Netherlands is 67.2%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Netherlands peaked at 67.9% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 66.1%, in 2017.
That places Netherlands 43rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
Labor force participation rate in Netherlands, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 66.3% | — |
| 1991 | 66.6% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 66.7% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 66.8% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 66.8% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 66.8% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 66.9% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 67.1% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 67.3% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 67.5% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 67.8% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 67.9% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 67.9% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 67.7% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 67.4% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 67.2% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 67.2% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 67.2% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 67.2% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 66.8% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 66.5% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 66.4% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 66.8% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 66.7% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 66.2% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 66.5% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 66.3% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 66.1% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 66.4% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 66.7% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 66.5% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 66.5% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 67.2% | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 67.7% | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 67.5% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 67.2% | -0.3% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 67.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 62.3%, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 67.2% 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 | 66.9% | 66.3% | 67.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.4% | 66.8% | 67.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.5% | 66.1% | 66.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 67.1% | 66.5% | 67.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
- 40 Kazakhstan 67.8% compare
- 41 Zimbabwe 67.7% compare
- 42 Kenya 67.4% compare
- 44 Cote d'Ivoire 67.1% compare
- 45 Mali 67.0% compare
- 46 East Timor 67.0% compare
More work & labour data for Netherlands
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 5,256 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 66.71 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 10,535 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 4.03 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 0.834 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 130,584 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 94,797 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 64.03 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.4 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.1112 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Netherlands?
- Labor force participation rate in Netherlands was 67.2% 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 Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 67.9% in 2001.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.1% in 2017.
- How does Netherlands rank for labor force participation rate?
- Netherlands ranks 43rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Netherlands 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).