Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private was 30.2% in 2019. ▼ Falling

Latest (2019)
30.2%
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
29th
of 45 countries
All-time high
36.6%
in 1983
All-time low
30.2%
in 2019
Years of data
37
1983–2019

Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1983–2019

0102030401983200120191983: 36.6 Percentage1984: 35.6 Percentage1985: 34.1 Percentage1986: 34 Percentage1987: 33.5 Percentage1988: 32.9 Percentage1989: 31.8 Percentage1990: 31.5 Percentage1991: 31.9 Percentage1992: 32.4 Percentage1993: 32.9 Percentage1994: 33.2 Percentage1995: 33.3 Percentage1996: 33 Percentage1997: 32.7 Percentage1998: 32.8 Percentage1999: 32.7 Percentage2000: 32.4 Percentage2001: 32.8 Percentage2002: 32.5 Percentage2003: 32.4 Percentage2004: 32.3 Percentage2005: 31.9 Percentage2006: 31.4 Percentage2007: 31.6 Percentage2008: 31.3 Percentage2009: 31.5 Percentage2010: 31.7 Percentage2011: 31.7 Percentage2012: 31.5 Percentage2013: 31.3 Percentage2014: 31.2 Percentage2015: 31.1 Percentage2016: 30.8 Percentage2017: 30.8 Percentage2018: 30.5 Percentage2019: 30.2 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 30.2% for persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 37 years on record.

That represents a change of down 1.0% on the previous year and down 4.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 36.6% in 1983 and was at its lowest, 30.2%, in 2019.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 29th of 45 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.

Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private households in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1983 to 2019.
Year Percentage Change
1983 36.6%
1984 35.6% -2.7%
1985 34.1% -4.2%
1986 34.0% -0.3%
1987 33.5% -1.5%
1988 32.9% -1.8%
1989 31.8% -3.3%
1990 31.5% -0.9%
1991 31.9% +1.3%
1992 32.4% +1.6%
1993 32.9% +1.5%
1994 33.2% +0.9%
1995 33.3% +0.3%
1996 33.0% -0.9%
1997 32.7% -0.9%
1998 32.8% +0.3%
1999 32.7% -0.3%
2000 32.4% -0.9%
2001 32.8% +1.2%
2002 32.5% -0.9%
2003 32.4% -0.3%
2004 32.3% -0.3%
2005 31.9% -1.2%
2006 31.4% -1.6%
2007 31.6% +0.6%
2008 31.3% -0.9%
2009 31.5% +0.6%
2010 31.7% +0.6%
2011 31.7% +0.0%
2012 31.5% -0.6%
2013 31.3% -0.6%
2014 31.2% -0.3%
2015 31.1% -0.3%
2016 30.8% -1.0%
2017 30.8% +0.0%
2018 30.5% -1.0%
2019 30.2% -1.0%

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries

  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 30.2% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 31.8%, 95% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 30.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 30.8%, 98% of the median. (31 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 34.1% 31.8% 36.6% 7
1990s 32.6% 31.5% 33.3% 10
2000s 32.0% 31.3% 32.8% 10
2010s 31.1% 30.2% 31.7% 10

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 27 Latvia 30.7% compare
  2. 27 Latvia 30.7% compare
  3. 29 United Kingdom 30.2% compare
  4. 31 Germany 29.7% compare
  5. 32 Lithuania 29.3% compare
  6. 32 Lithuania 29.3% compare

See the full ranking of 47 places →

More work & labour data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 30.2% in 2019, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 36.6% in 1983.
What is the lowest persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 30.2% in 2019.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 29th out of 45 countries with data for 2019.
Is persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is down 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private households. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/persons-outside-the-labour-force-percent-of-total-population-in-private-households-2/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private households
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
47 places, 1,442 data points, 1983–2025
Last refreshed