Labor force participation rate in Spain
Spain: Labor force participation rate was 57.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate in Spain, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Spain recorded 57.4% for labor force participation rate in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Spain peaked at 59.4% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 49.7%, in 1991.
That places Spain 125th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate in Spain, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 49.9% | — |
| 1991 | 49.7% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 49.8% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 49.9% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 50.3% | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 50.1% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 50.4% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 50.9% | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 51.2% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 51.8% | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 52.9% | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 52.1% | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 53.7% | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 54.8% | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 55.7% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 56.9% | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 57.8% | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 58.3% | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 59.1% | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 59.3% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 59.4% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 59.4% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 59.4% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 59.1% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 58.7% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 58.6% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 58.3% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 58.0% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 57.6% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 57.6% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 56.4% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 57.3% | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 57.6% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 57.6% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 57.8% | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 57.4% | -0.7% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 57.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 62.3%, 92% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Spain's 57.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 60.2%, 95% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.4% | 49.7% | 51.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 56.1% | 52.1% | 59.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.6% | 57.6% | 59.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.3% | 56.4% | 57.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Spain
- 122 Costa Rica 57.7% compare
- 123 Slovenia 57.6% compare
- 124 Uzbekistan 57.5% compare
- 126 Kyrgyzstan 57.4% compare
- 127 Fiji 57.2% compare
- 128 Lesotho 57.1% compare
More work & labour data for Spain
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.527 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.5576 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4982 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.05 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1207 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 39,073 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,322 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 17,076 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 16,051 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 33,128 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Spain?
- Labor force participation rate in Spain was 57.4% 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 59.4% in 2012.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.7% in 1991.
- How does Spain rank for labor force participation rate?
- Spain ranks 125th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Spain 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).