Labor force participation rate in El Salvador
El Salvador: Labor force participation rate was 62.1% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
62.1%
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
89th
of 186 countries
All-time high
63.4%
in 1994
All-time low
56.5%
in 2020
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in El Salvador, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
El Salvador recorded 62.1% for labor force participation rate in 2025.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in El Salvador peaked at 63.4% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 56.5%, in 2020.
El Salvador ranks 89th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 61.6% | — |
| 1991 | 61.6% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 61.7% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 62.6% | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 63.4% | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 62.4% | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 60.8% | -2.5% |
| 1997 | 60.5% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 62.6% | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 62.1% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 61.5% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 60.9% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 60.4% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 61.8% | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 60.2% | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 60.6% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 60.9% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 61.4% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 60.9% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 60.4% | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 59.9% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 59.6% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 60.2% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 60.5% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 59.4% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 58.7% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 59.3% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 59.0% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 58.7% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 59.9% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 56.5% | -5.6% |
| 2021 | 59.2% | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 60.1% | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 61.6% | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 61.9% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 62.1% | +0.3% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 62.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 60.5%, 1.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 62.1% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 63.1%, 98% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 61.9% | 60.5% | 63.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.9% | 60.2% | 61.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.5% | 58.7% | 60.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.2% | 56.5% | 62.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More work & labour data for El Salvador
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.8531 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.8121 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.893 % 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 0.2563 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 5,984 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,013 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,591 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,482 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,073 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in El Salvador?
- Labor force participation rate in El Salvador was 62.1% 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 El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 63.4% in 1994.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.5% in 2020.
- How does El Salvador rank for labor force participation rate?
- El Salvador ranks 89th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this El Salvador 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).