Labor force participation rate in Germany
Germany: Labor force participation rate was 60.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate in Germany, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate in Germany is 60.6%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and up 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Germany peaked at 61.3% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 57.5%, in 2004.
Germany ranks 99th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 58.5% | 58.0% | 59.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.4% | 57.5% | 59.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.3% | 59.3% | 61.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.7% | 60.4% | 61.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More work & labour data for Germany
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 60.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 66.1% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 83.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 55.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 80.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 83.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 76.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Germany?
- Labor force participation rate in Germany was 60.6% 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 61.3% in 2019.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.5% in 2004.
- How does Germany rank for labor force participation rate?
- Germany ranks 99th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Germany 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).