Labor force participation rate in Serbia
Serbia: Labor force participation rate was 59.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
59.1%
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
110th
of 186 countries
All-time high
59.2%
in 2024
All-time low
49.7%
in 2010
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Serbia, 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 Serbia stood at 59.1%.
That represents a change of up 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Serbia peaked at 59.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 49.7%, in 2010.
Serbia ranks 110th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate in Serbia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 58.9% | — |
| 1991 | 59.1% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 59.0% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 58.8% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 58.2% | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 57.6% | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 56.8% | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 56.0% | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 55.5% | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 56.2% | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 55.7% | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 55.3% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 54.9% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 54.5% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 54.1% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 53.7% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 53.4% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 53.5% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 52.8% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 51.0% | -3.5% |
| 2010 | 49.7% | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 49.7% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 50.2% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 51.2% | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 51.6% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 51.2% | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 53.0% | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 53.6% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 54.0% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 54.1% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 53.4% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 56.2% | +5.3% |
| 2022 | 57.1% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 58.1% | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 59.2% | +1.8% |
| 2025 | 59.1% | -0.0% |
Serbia compared with similar countries
- Serbia's 59.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 60.5%, 98% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Serbia's 59.1% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 60.2%, 98% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 57.6% | 55.5% | 59.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 53.9% | 51.0% | 55.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.8% | 49.7% | 54.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.2% | 53.4% | 59.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Serbia
More work & labour data for Serbia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7737 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.7205 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.8268 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.14 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1128 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 5,121 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 2,326 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 1,850 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 1,852 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 3,702 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Serbia?
- Labor force participation rate in Serbia was 59.1% 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 Serbia?
- The highest recorded value was 59.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Serbia?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.7% in 2010.
- How does Serbia rank for labor force participation rate?
- Serbia ranks 110th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Serbia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Serbia 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).