Persons outside the labour force in Ireland
Ireland: Persons outside the labour force was 1,587 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Persons outside the labour force in Ireland, 2004–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, persons outside the labour force in Ireland stood at 1,587. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 5.6% on the previous year and up 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, persons outside the labour force in Ireland peaked at 1,587 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1,358, in 2004.
That places Ireland 43rd out of 57 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Persons outside the labour force in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1,358 | — |
| 2005 | 1,359 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 1,392 | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 1,395 | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 1,409 | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 1,481 | +5.1% |
| 2010 | 1,492 | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 1,448 | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 1,472 | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 1,491 | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 1,480 | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 1,507 | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 1,516 | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 1,485 | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 1,452 | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 1,441 | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 1,512 | +5.0% |
| 2021 | 1,542 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 1,550 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 1,490 | -3.9% |
| 2024 | 1,504 | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 1,587 | +5.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,399 | 1,358 | 1,481 | 6 |
| 2010s | 1,478 | 1,441 | 1,516 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,531 | 1,490 | 1,587 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More work & labour data for Ireland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4574 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4405 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.9335 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 4,354 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,447 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,638 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,649 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,286 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is persons outside the labour force in Ireland?
- Persons outside the labour force in Ireland was 1,587 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest persons outside the labour force recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 1,587 in 2025.
- What is the lowest persons outside the labour force recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,358 in 2004.
- How does Ireland rank for persons outside the labour force?
- Ireland ranks 43rd out of 57 countries with data for 2025.
- Is persons outside the labour force rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Persons outside the labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. Persons outside the labour force comprise all persons of working age who, during the specified reference period, were not in the labour force (that is, were not employed or unemployed). The term disability, as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), is used as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. For measurement purposes, a person with disability is defined as a person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem. For more information, refer to the Disability Labour Market Indicators (DLMI) database description.