Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)
European Union - 27 countries (from 2020): Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private was 34.2% in 2026. ▼ Falling
Latest (2026)
34.2%
Change on year
up 0.6%
Rank
1st
of 2 regions
All-time high
39.7%
in 2002
All-time low
34.0%
in 2025
Years of data
25
2002–2026
Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020), 2002–2026
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.
Analysis
In 2026, persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) stood at 34.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and down 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) peaked at 39.7% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 34.0%, in 2025.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020), year by year
| Year | Percentage | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 39.7% | — |
| 2003 | 39.4% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 39.3% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 38.7% | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 38.3% | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 37.9% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 37.6% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 37.6% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 37.5% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 37.2% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 36.8% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 36.8% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 36.5% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 36.5% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 36.2% | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 35.9% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 35.8% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 35.5% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 36.2% | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 35.5% | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 35.0% | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 34.5% | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 34.5% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 34.0% | -1.4% |
| 2026 | 34.2% | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 38.6% | 37.6% | 39.7% | 8 |
| 2010s | 36.5% | 35.5% | 37.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.8% | 34.0% | 36.2% | 7 |
Countries ranked near European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)
- 1 Bosnia and Herzegovina 47.1% compare
- 2 Montenegro 46.2% compare
- 3 Türkiye 45.8% compare
- 4 Romania 43.0% compare
More work & labour data for European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)
- Labour force participation rates by educational attainment level 75.6% (2025)
- Persons in full-time/part-time employment by professional status and 207,842 Thousand persons (2025)
- Labour force participation rates by NUTS 2 region 65.9% (2025)
- Labour force by NUTS 2 region 221,161 Thousand persons (2025)
- Labour force by educational attainment level and NUTS 2 region 221,161 Thousand persons (2025)
- Population in private households by citizenship, labour status and 335,604 Thousand persons (2025)
- Employed persons by NUTS 2 region 207,842 Thousand persons (2025)
- Population in private households by country of birth, labour status 335,604 Thousand persons (2025)
- Employment rates by educational attainment level, country of birth 71.0% (2025)
- Labour force participation rates by educational attainment level 75.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)?
- Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) was 34.2% in 2026, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private recorded in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)?
- The highest recorded value was 39.7% in 2002.
- What is the lowest persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private recorded in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.0% in 2025.
- How does European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) rank for persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private?
- European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) ranks 1st out of 2 regions with data for 2026.
- Is persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private rising or falling in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private households - quarterly data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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