Labor force participation rate in Norway
Norway: Labor force participation rate was 65.6% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate in Norway, 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 Norway is 65.6%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Norway peaked at 68.4% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 61.6%, in 1990.
That places Norway 55th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 63.8% | 61.6% | 66.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.7% | 66.8% | 68.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.5% | 65.7% | 67.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 65.8% | 65.6% | 66.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Norway
More work & labour data for Norway
- 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+) 65.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 69.1% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 89.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 62.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 80.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 82.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 78.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Norway?
- Labor force participation rate in Norway was 65.6% 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 Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 68.4% in 2008.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.6% in 1990.
- How does Norway rank for labor force participation rate?
- Norway ranks 55th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Norway 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
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).