Labor force participation rate in Turkey
Turkey: Labor force participation rate was 54.4% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
54.4%
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
141st
of 186 countries
All-time high
57.0%
in 1991
All-time low
46.2%
in 2007
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Turkey, 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 Turkey is 54.4%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Turkey peaked at 57.0% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 46.2%, in 2007.
Turkey ranks 141st of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Labor force participation rate in Turkey, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 56.6% | — |
| 1991 | 57.0% | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 56.0% | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 52.2% | -6.9% |
| 1994 | 54.6% | +4.8% |
| 1995 | 54.1% | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 53.7% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 52.6% | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 52.8% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 52.7% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 49.9% | -5.2% |
| 2001 | 49.8% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 49.6% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 48.3% | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 46.3% | -4.2% |
| 2005 | 46.4% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 46.3% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 46.2% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 46.9% | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 47.9% | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 48.8% | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 49.9% | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 50.0% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 50.8% | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 50.5% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 51.3% | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 52.0% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 52.8% | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 53.2% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 53.0% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 49.3% | -6.8% |
| 2021 | 51.4% | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 53.1% | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 53.3% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 54.2% | +1.7% |
| 2025 | 54.4% | +0.3% |
Turkey compared with similar countries
- Turkey's 54.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 60.5%, 90% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Turkey's 54.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 60.2%, 90% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 54.2% | 52.2% | 57.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.8% | 46.2% | 49.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.2% | 48.8% | 53.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.6% | 49.3% | 54.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Turkey
More work & labour data for Turkey
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 31,966 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 54.63 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 38,497 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 8.78 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.51 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 95,928 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 41,171 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 49.84 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 0.6505 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 1.11 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Turkey?
- Labor force participation rate in Turkey was 54.4% 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 Turkey?
- The highest recorded value was 57.0% in 1991.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Turkey?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.2% in 2007.
- How does Turkey rank for labor force participation rate?
- Turkey ranks 141st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Turkey?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Turkey 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).