Labour force participation rates by educational attainment level, citizenship and degree of urbanisation by country
Countries reporting
45
Highest
88.1%
Iceland
Lowest
60.1%
Türkiye
Median
77.6%
Years covered
31
1995–2025
Data points
1,285
What the numbers show
Labour force participation rates by educational attainment level, citizenship and degree of urbanisation is currently reported for 45 countries. The highest value is 88.1% in Iceland; the lowest is 60.1% in Türkiye.
The median across all reporting countries is 77.6%, and the mean is 76.4%.
Over the past decade 43 countries rose and 1 fell. The largest increase was in Malta (up 20.1%), and the largest decrease in Iceland (down 0.3%).
Labour force participation rates by educational attainment level: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iceland | 88.1% | 2025 | down 0.3% | flat |
| 2 | Netherlands | 85.6% | 2025 | up 7.5% | rising |
| 2 | Netherlands | 85.6% | 2025 | up 7.5% | rising |
| 4 | Switzerland | 84.1% | 2025 | up 1.0% | rising |
| 5 | Sweden | 84.0% | 2025 | up 2.8% | rising |
| 6 | Malta | 82.6% | 2025 | up 20.1% | rising |
| 7 | Denmark | 82.3% | 2025 | up 7.0% | flat |
| 8 | Estonia | 81.7% | 2025 | up 7.1% | rising |
| 8 | Estonia | 81.7% | 2025 | up 7.1% | rising |
| 10 | Cyprus | 80.4% | 2025 | up 8.8% | rising |
| 11 | Germany | 80.3% | 2025 | up 3.5% | rising |
| 11 | Norway | 80.3% | 2025 | up 2.7% | flat |
| 13 | Lithuania | 79.7% | 2025 | up 7.6% | rising |
| 13 | Lithuania | 79.7% | 2025 | up 7.6% | rising |
| 13 | Finland | 79.7% | 2025 | up 5.1% | rising |
| 16 | Austria | 78.9% | 2025 | up 4.5% | rising |
| 17 | Portugal | 78.8% | 2025 | up 7.4% | rising |
| 18 | Hungary | 78.6% | 2025 | up 14.6% | rising |
| 19 | Ireland | 78.4% | 2025 | up 8.7% | rising |
| 20 | United Kingdom | 78.1% | 2019 | up 3.2% | flat |
| 20 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 78.1% | 2019 | up 3.2% | flat |
| 22 | Czechia | 78.0% | 2025 | up 5.4% | rising |
| 23 | Latvia | 77.6% | 2025 | up 2.5% | rising |
| 23 | Latvia | 77.6% | 2025 | up 2.5% | rising |
| 25 | Slovakia | 76.5% | 2025 | up 7.9% | rising |
| 25 | Slovakia | 76.5% | 2025 | up 7.9% | rising |
| 27 | Slovenia | 75.8% | 2025 | up 5.6% | rising |
| 27 | Slovenia | 75.8% | 2025 | up 5.6% | rising |
| 29 | Poland | 75.2% | 2025 | up 10.4% | rising |
| 29 | Poland | 75.2% | 2025 | up 10.4% | rising |
| 31 | France | 75.1% | 2025 | up 5.3% | rising |
| 32 | Spain | 74.9% | 2025 | up 0.8% | rising |
| 33 | Luxembourg | 74.3% | 2025 | up 4.8% | rising |
| 34 | Bulgaria | 73.5% | 2025 | up 6.1% | rising |
| 35 | Serbia | 73.0% | 2025 | up 14.6% | rising |
| 36 | Croatia | 72.4% | 2025 | up 8.2% | rising |
| 36 | Croatia | 72.4% | 2025 | up 8.2% | rising |
| 38 | Belgium | 71.9% | 2025 | up 6.4% | rising |
| 39 | Greece | 70.9% | 2025 | up 4.6% | rising |
| 40 | Romania | 67.1% | 2025 | up 1.5% | flat |
| 41 | Italy | 66.7% | 2025 | up 4.2% | rising |
| 42 | North Macedonia | 66.6% | 2025 | up 2.6% | rising |
| 43 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 62.8% | 2025 | — | rising |
| 44 | Montenegro | 61.5% | 2020 | up 7.5% | rising |
| 45 | Türkiye | 60.1% | 2025 | up 7.3% | rising |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.