Labor force participation rate in Mauritius
Mauritius: Labor force participation rate was 58.5% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
58.5%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
114th
of 186 countries
All-time high
60.5%
in 2003
All-time low
52.6%
in 2021
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Mauritius, 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 Mauritius stood at 58.5%.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Mauritius peaked at 60.5% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 52.6%, in 2021.
Mauritius ranks 114th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate in Mauritius, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 60.2% | — |
| 1991 | 60.1% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 60.1% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 60.0% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 59.9% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 59.8% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 59.6% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 59.4% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 59.2% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 59.0% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 58.8% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 57.6% | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 58.3% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 60.5% | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 58.9% | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 59.3% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 59.0% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 58.2% | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 58.3% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 58.4% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 59.2% | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 58.4% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 58.7% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 59.7% | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 60.0% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 60.3% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 59.7% | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 59.9% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 59.3% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 59.7% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 55.7% | -6.8% |
| 2021 | 52.6% | -5.6% |
| 2022 | 55.6% | +5.7% |
| 2023 | 59.0% | +6.2% |
| 2024 | 58.7% | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 58.5% | -0.2% |
Mauritius compared with similar countries
- Mauritius's 58.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 60.5%, 97% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Mauritius's 58.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 64.3%, 91% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 59.7% | 59.0% | 60.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.7% | 57.6% | 60.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.5% | 58.4% | 60.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 56.7% | 52.6% | 59.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mauritius
More work & labour data for Mauritius
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.42 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1.34 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.49 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.32 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.4521 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 604.35 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 616.68 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 298.03 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 283.69 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 581.72 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Mauritius?
- Labor force participation rate in Mauritius was 58.5% 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 Mauritius?
- The highest recorded value was 60.5% in 2003.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Mauritius?
- The lowest recorded value was 52.6% in 2021.
- How does Mauritius rank for labor force participation rate?
- Mauritius ranks 114th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Mauritius?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Mauritius 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.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).