Labour force: ICLS13) (15+) … previous ICLS13 15+ in Mexico
Mexico: Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 59.47 in 2026. ▲ Rising
Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Mexico, 1960–2026
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Mexico recorded 59.47 for labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in 2026.
The figure is down 1.5% on the previous year and down 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Mexico peaked at 61.32 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 27.6, in 1975.
That places Mexico 129th out of 210 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 44 years of available data.
Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Mexico, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 55.48 | — |
| 1970 | 48.64 | -12.3% |
| 1975 | 27.6 | -43.3% |
| 1978 | 50.97 | +84.7% |
| 1979 | 51.3 | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 55.79 | +8.7% |
| 1988 | 59.14 | +6.0% |
| 1990 | 47.58 | -19.5% |
| 1991 | 57.86 | +21.6% |
| 1992 | 50.56 | -12.6% |
| 1993 | 59.41 | +17.5% |
| 1994 | 50.87 | -14.4% |
| 1995 | 59.35 | +16.7% |
| 1996 | 59.21 | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 60.41 | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 60.38 | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 59.51 | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 59.22 | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 57.28 | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 57.94 | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 58.28 | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 58.85 | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 59.33 | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 60.13 | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 60.1 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 59.94 | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 59.89 | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 59.66 | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 59.78 | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 60.43 | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 60.31 | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 59.81 | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 59.85 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 59.74 | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 59.42 | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 59.63 | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 60.17 | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 56.11 | -6.8% |
| 2021 | 59.76 | +6.5% |
| 2022 | 60.77 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 61.32 | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 61.1 | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 60.37 | -1.2% |
| 2026 | 59.47 | -1.5% |
Mexico compared with similar countries
- Mexico's 59.47 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 62.79, 95% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Mexico's 59.47 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 63.8, 93% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Mexico changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | +84.7% | 27.6 | 50.97 |
| 1975 | -43.3% | 48.64 | 27.6 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 55.48 | 55.48 | 55.48 | 1 |
| 1970s | 44.63 | 27.6 | 51.3 | 4 |
| 1980s | 57.46 | 55.79 | 59.14 | 2 |
| 1990s | 56.51 | 47.58 | 60.41 | 10 |
| 2000s | 59.1 | 57.28 | 60.13 | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.88 | 59.42 | 60.43 | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.84 | 56.11 | 61.32 | 7 |
Countries ranked near Mexico
More work & labour data for Mexico
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.5786 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.5539 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.6038 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.41 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.5363 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 144,910 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 19,369 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 65,616 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 64,633 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 130,249 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Mexico?
- Labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Mexico was 59.47 in 2026, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Mexico?
- The highest recorded value was 61.32 in 2023.
- What is the lowest labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Mexico?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.6 in 1975.
- How does Mexico rank for labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- Mexico ranks 129th out of 210 countries with data for 2026.
- Is labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in Mexico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mexico data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. The labour force participation rate is the labour force as a percent of the working-age population. The labour force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed. For more information, refer to the Labour Force Statistics (LFS and STLFS) database description.