Labor force participation rate in North Macedonia

North Macedonia: Labor force participation rate was 51.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat

Latest (2025)
51.9%
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
154th
of 186 countries
All-time high
56.3%
in 1991
All-time low
51.6%
in 2021
Years of data
36
1990–2025

Labor force participation rate in North Macedonia, 1990–2025

02040601990200720251990: 56 %1991: 56.3 %1992: 55.8 %1993: 55.3 %1994: 54.8 %1995: 54.4 %1996: 54 %1997: 53.8 %1998: 53.2 %1999: 52.6 %2000: 52.7 %2001: 52.9 %2002: 53 %2003: 53.5 %2004: 53.4 %2005: 53.3 %2006: 53.2 %2007: 54.3 %2008: 54.7 %2009: 54.7 %2010: 53.2 %2011: 54.5 %2012: 54.3 %2013: 54.7 %2014: 54.6 %2015: 54 %2016: 53.4 %2017: 53.2 %2018: 52.8 %2019: 53 %2020: 52.1 %2021: 51.6 %2022: 52.9 %2023: 51.8 %2024: 52.2 %2025: 51.9 %

Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2025, labor force participation rate in North Macedonia stood at 51.9%.

The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 3.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in North Macedonia peaked at 56.3% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 51.6%, in 2021.

North Macedonia ranks 154th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 54.6% 52.6% 56.3% 10
2000s 53.6% 52.7% 54.7% 10
2010s 53.8% 52.8% 54.7% 10
2020s 52.1% 51.6% 52.9% 6

Countries ranked near North Macedonia

  1. 151 Papua New Guinea 52.1% compare
  2. 152 Senegal 52.0% compare
  3. 153 Greece 52.0% compare
  4. 155 Venezuela 51.9% compare
  5. 156 Romania 51.3% compare
  6. 157 Eswatini 51.2% compare

See the full ranking of 186 places →

More work & labour data for North Macedonia

All data for North Macedonia →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate in North Macedonia?
Labor force participation rate in North Macedonia was 51.9% 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 North Macedonia?
The highest recorded value was 56.3% in 1991.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in North Macedonia?
The lowest recorded value was 51.6% in 2021.
How does North Macedonia rank for labor force participation rate?
North Macedonia ranks 154th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in North Macedonia?
Over the last ten years it is down 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this North Macedonia 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

Indicator
Labor force participation rate
Unit
%
Source
ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
186 places, 6,682 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed

Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).