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 30.3% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
30.3%
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
29th
of 45 countries
All-time high
32.8%
in 1998
All-time low
29.9%
in 2019
Years of data
23
1998–2020

Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1998–2020

01020301998200920201998: 32.8 Percentage1999: 32.1 Percentage2000: 32.2 Percentage2001: 32.2 Percentage2002: 32 Percentage2003: 32 Percentage2004: 32 Percentage2005: 31.7 Percentage2006: 31.4 Percentage2007: 31.4 Percentage2008: 31.2 Percentage2009: 31.6 Percentage2010: 31.7 Percentage2011: 31.6 Percentage2012: 31.2 Percentage2013: 31.1 Percentage2014: 31.2 Percentage2015: 30.9 Percentage2016: 30.8 Percentage2017: 30.6 Percentage2018: 30.3 Percentage2019: 29.9 Percentage2020: 30.3 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

The most recent figure for persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 30.3%, measured in 2020.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and down 4.4% 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 32.8% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 29.9%, 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 23 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 - quarterly data in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1998 to 2020.
Year Percentage Change
1998 32.8%
1999 32.1% -2.1%
2000 32.2% +0.3%
2001 32.2% +0.0%
2002 32.0% -0.6%
2003 32.0% +0.0%
2004 32.0% +0.0%
2005 31.7% -0.9%
2006 31.4% -0.9%
2007 31.4% +0.0%
2008 31.2% -0.6%
2009 31.6% +1.3%
2010 31.7% +0.3%
2011 31.6% -0.3%
2012 31.2% -1.3%
2013 31.1% -0.3%
2014 31.2% +0.3%
2015 30.9% -1.0%
2016 30.8% -0.3%
2017 30.6% -0.6%
2018 30.3% -1.0%
2019 29.9% -1.3%
2020 30.3% +1.3%

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

  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 30.3% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 31.7%, 96% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 30.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 31.2%, 97% of the median. (31 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 32.5% 32.1% 32.8% 2
2000s 31.8% 31.2% 32.2% 10
2010s 30.9% 29.9% 31.7% 10
2020s 30.3% 30.3% 30.3% 1

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 26 Czechia 31.2% compare
  2. 26 Portugal 31.2% compare
  3. 28 Austria 30.9% compare
  4. 29 United Kingdom 30.3% compare
  5. 31 Germany 29.7% compare
  6. 32 Ireland 29.2% 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 30.3% in 2020, 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 32.8% in 1998.
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 29.9% 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 2020.
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 4.4%. 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 - quarterly data. 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/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private households - quarterly data
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
47 places, 1,257 data points, 1998–2026
Last refreshed