Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Spain
Spain: Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 58.19 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Spain, 1950–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Spain is 58.19, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and down 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Spain peaked at 59.73 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 47.02, in 1986.
Spain ranks 138th of 210 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 52 years of available data.
Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Spain, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 51.19 | — |
| 1960 | 51.6 | +0.8% |
| 1970 | 47.81 | -7.3% |
| 1977 | 50.55 | +5.7% |
| 1978 | 49.96 | -1.2% |
| 1979 | 49.42 | -1.1% |
| 1980 | 48.77 | -1.3% |
| 1981 | 48.25 | -1.1% |
| 1982 | 48.16 | -0.2% |
| 1983 | 48.08 | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 47.77 | -0.7% |
| 1985 | 47.51 | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 47.02 | -1.0% |
| 1987 | 47.95 | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 48.32 | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 48.24 | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 48.57 | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 48.21 | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 49.81 | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 49.85 | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 50.23 | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 50.05 | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 50.35 | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 50.81 | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 51.1 | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 51.61 | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 52.77 | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 52.09 | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 53.77 | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 54.94 | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 55.85 | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 57.09 | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 57.98 | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 58.58 | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 59.37 | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 59.51 | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 59.63 | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 59.67 | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 59.73 | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 59.38 | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 58.96 | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 58.83 | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 58.52 | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 58.12 | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 57.92 | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 57.92 | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 56.72 | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 57.65 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 57.78 | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 58.06 | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 58.02 | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 58.19 | +0.3% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 58.19 is below the median for high income countries, which is 63.11, 92% of the median. (80 countries reporting)
- Spain's 58.19 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 61.7, 94% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 51.19 | 51.19 | 51.19 | 1 |
| 1960s | 51.6 | 51.6 | 51.6 | 1 |
| 1970s | 49.43 | 47.81 | 50.55 | 4 |
| 1980s | 48.01 | 47.02 | 48.77 | 10 |
| 1990s | 50.06 | 48.21 | 51.61 | 10 |
| 2000s | 56.19 | 52.09 | 59.51 | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.87 | 57.92 | 59.73 | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.74 | 56.72 | 58.19 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More work & labour data for Spain
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.527 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.5576 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4982 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.05 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1207 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 39,073 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,322 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 17,076 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 16,051 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 33,128 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Spain?
- Labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Spain was 58.19 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 59.73 in 2012.
- What is the lowest labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.02 in 1986.
- How does Spain rank for labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- Spain ranks 138th out of 210 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Spain 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.