Labor force participation rate in Romania
Romania: Labor force participation rate was 51.3% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
51.3%
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
156th
of 186 countries
All-time high
52.6%
in 2022
All-time low
47.2%
in 2009
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Romania, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate in Romania stood at 51.3%.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and up 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Romania peaked at 52.6% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 47.2%, in 2009.
That places Romania 156th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Labor force participation rate in Romania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 50.1% | — |
| 1991 | 50.3% | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 50.7% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 50.8% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 50.6% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 50.4% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 50.3% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 50.6% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 50.8% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 51.0% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 51.1% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 50.9% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 50.7% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 50.7% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 50.6% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 50.5% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 50.6% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 50.7% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 51.0% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 47.2% | -7.4% |
| 2010 | 50.3% | +6.5% |
| 2011 | 49.9% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 50.0% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 50.1% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 50.5% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 51.2% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 50.9% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 51.8% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 51.8% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 52.0% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 52.0% | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 52.5% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 52.6% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 51.7% | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 51.5% | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 51.3% | -0.3% |
Romania compared with similar countries
- Romania's 51.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 62.3%, 82% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Romania's 51.3% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 60.2%, 85% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.6% | 50.1% | 51.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 50.4% | 47.2% | 51.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.9% | 49.9% | 52.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.9% | 51.3% | 52.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Romania
More work & labour data for Romania
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7777 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.7486 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.8063 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.18 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1264 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 10,932 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,465 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 5,408 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 5,360 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 10,768 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Romania?
- Labor force participation rate in Romania was 51.3% 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 Romania?
- The highest recorded value was 52.6% in 2022.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Romania?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.2% in 2009.
- How does Romania rank for labor force participation rate?
- Romania ranks 156th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Romania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Romania 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).