Labor force participation rate in Uruguay
Uruguay: Labor force participation rate was 65.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
65.0%
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
60th
of 186 countries
All-time high
66.0%
in 2011
All-time low
56.6%
in 1993
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Uruguay, 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 Uruguay stood at 65.0%.
The figure is up 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Uruguay peaked at 66.0% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 56.6%, in 1993.
That places Uruguay 60th 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 Uruguay, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 57.2% | — |
| 1991 | 57.5% | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 57.6% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 56.6% | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 58.1% | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 59.2% | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 60.3% | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 60.7% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 61.0% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 59.8% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 60.2% | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 61.6% | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 60.0% | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 59.1% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 59.5% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 59.5% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 62.0% | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 63.8% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 64.0% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 64.7% | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 64.3% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 66.0% | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 65.2% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 64.8% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 65.9% | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 64.9% | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 64.6% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 64.1% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 63.7% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 63.5% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 61.1% | -3.8% |
| 2021 | 62.9% | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 63.2% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 64.6% | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 65.0% | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 65.0% | -0.0% |
Uruguay compared with similar countries
- Uruguay's 65.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 62.3%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Uruguay's 65.0% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 63.1%, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 58.8% | 56.6% | 61.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 61.4% | 59.1% | 64.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 64.7% | 63.5% | 66.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.6% | 61.1% | 65.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
More work & labour data for Uruguay
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.02 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.03 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.72 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.0269 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 3,567 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 95.27 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 1,144 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 1,102 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 2,246 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Uruguay?
- Labor force participation rate in Uruguay was 65.0% 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 Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 66.0% in 2011.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.6% in 1993.
- How does Uruguay rank for labor force participation rate?
- Uruguay ranks 60th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Uruguay 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).