Labour force participation rates by educational attainment level, citizenship and degree of urbanisation by country
Countries reporting
47
Highest
88.1%
Iceland
Lowest
60.1%
Türkiye
Median
77.6%
Years covered
31
1995–2025
Data points
1,321
What the numbers show
Labour force participation rates by educational attainment level, citizenship and degree of urbanisation is currently reported for 47 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 76.1%.
Over the past decade 45 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 … degree urbanisation citizenship: 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 | 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 | 74.0% | 2025 | up 4.4% | rising |
| 34 | Bulgaria | 73.5% | 2025 | up 6.1% | rising |
| 35 | Serbia | 73.0% | 2025 | up 14.6% | rising |
| 35 | Serbia | 73.0% | 2025 | up 14.6% | rising |
| 37 | Croatia | 72.4% | 2025 | up 8.2% | rising |
| 37 | Croatia | 72.4% | 2025 | up 8.2% | rising |
| 39 | Belgium | 71.9% | 2025 | up 6.4% | rising |
| 40 | Greece | 70.9% | 2025 | up 4.6% | rising |
| 41 | Romania | 67.1% | 2025 | up 1.5% | flat |
| 42 | Italy | 66.7% | 2025 | up 4.2% | rising |
| 43 | North Macedonia | 66.6% | 2025 | up 2.6% | rising |
| 43 | North Macedonia | 66.6% | 2025 | up 2.6% | rising |
| 45 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 62.8% | 2025 | — | rising |
| 46 | Montenegro | 61.5% | 2020 | up 7.5% | rising |
| 47 | 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.