Employment-to-population ratio — all countries

Employment-to-population ratio — Western Europe

Employment-to-population ratio in Western Europe in 2025 — 56.18%. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 1.85 pp.

2025 56.18% −0.45 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 56.93%2023
Period minimum 52.18%1997

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Employment-to-population ratio — Western Europe, 1991–20255254565819911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 54.33%1992: 53.85%1993: 52.99%1994: 52.49%1995: 52.62%1996: 52.45%1997: 52.18%1998: 52.41%1999: 53.01%2000: 53.56%2001: 53.8%2002: 53.61%2003: 53.43%2004: 52.74%2005: 52.98%2006: 53.55%2007: 54.34%2008: 54.91%2009: 54.45%2010: 54.55%2011: 54.99%2012: 55.11%2013: 55.14%2014: 54.98%2015: 55.01%2016: 55.29%2017: 55.66%2018: 56.09%2019: 56.43%2020: 55.64%2021: 56.06%2022: 56.75%2023: 56.93%2024: 56.63%2025: 56.18%
Change over the period: +1.85 pp Annual average: 0.05 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Western Europe

Western Europe 56.18%
World 58.06%
Employment-to-population ratio — Western Europe, by year Western Europe All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 56.18 −0.45 pp
2024 56.63 −0.3 pp
2023 56.93 +0.18 pp
2022 56.75 +0.69 pp
2021 56.06 +0.43 pp
2020 55.64 −0.8 pp
2019 56.43 +0.34 pp
2018 56.09 +0.44 pp
2017 55.66 +0.37 pp
2016 55.29 +0.28 pp
2015 55.01 +0.04 pp
2014 54.98 −0.16 pp
2013 55.14 +0.03 pp
2012 55.11 +0.12 pp
2011 54.99 +0.45 pp
2010 54.55 +0.1 pp
2009 54.45 −0.46 pp
2008 54.91 +0.56 pp
2007 54.34 +0.79 pp
2006 53.55 +0.58 pp
2005 52.98 +0.23 pp
2004 52.74 −0.69 pp
2003 53.43 −0.17 pp
2002 53.61 −0.19 pp
2001 53.8 +0.24 pp
2000 53.56 +0.55 pp
1999 53.01 +0.6 pp
1998 52.41 +0.23 pp
1997 52.18 −0.27 pp
1996 52.45 −0.17 pp
1995 52.62 +0.13 pp
1994 52.49 −0.5 pp
1993 52.99 −0.86 pp
1992 53.85 −0.48 pp
1991 54.33

About the indicator

The ratio of the employed to the population aged 15 and over. Unlike the unemployment rate it does not depend on whether a person is looking for work, so it captures the actual involvement of the population in the economy better. Employment and unemployment together give the full picture: low unemployment alongside low employment means mass withdrawal from the labor force.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.