Labor force participation rate — all countries

Labor force participation rate — Low-income countries

Labor force participation rate in low-income countries in 2025 — 64.2%. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 6.09 pp.

2025 64.2% −0.09 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 70.37%1992
Period minimum 62.5%2021

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Labor force participation rate — Low-income countries, 1990–202562646668707219901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 70.29%1991: 70.36%1992: 70.37%1993: 70.27%1994: 70.19%1995: 70.21%1996: 70.21%1997: 70.18%1998: 70.16%1999: 70.13%2000: 70.09%2001: 69.99%2002: 69.84%2003: 69.68%2004: 69.55%2005: 69.39%2006: 69.05%2007: 68.7%2008: 68.4%2009: 68.14%2010: 67.88%2011: 68.08%2012: 66.9%2013: 67.5%2014: 66.52%2015: 65.71%2016: 65.1%2017: 64.46%2018: 64.08%2019: 63.63%2020: 62.81%2021: 62.5%2022: 62.75%2023: 64.56%2024: 64.29%2025: 64.2%
Change over the period: −6.09 pp Annual average: -0.17 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Low-income countries

Low-income countries 64.2%
World 60.98%
Labor force participation rate — Low-income countries, by year Low-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 64.2 −0.09 pp
2024 64.29 −0.26 pp
2023 64.56 +1.81 pp
2022 62.75 +0.25 pp
2021 62.5 −0.31 pp
2020 62.81 −0.82 pp
2019 63.63 −0.45 pp
2018 64.08 −0.39 pp
2017 64.46 −0.64 pp
2016 65.1 −0.6 pp
2015 65.71 −0.82 pp
2014 66.52 −0.98 pp
2013 67.5 +0.6 pp
2012 66.9 −1.17 pp
2011 68.08 +0.19 pp
2010 67.88 −0.25 pp
2009 68.14 −0.26 pp
2008 68.4 −0.3 pp
2007 68.7 −0.35 pp
2006 69.05 −0.33 pp
2005 69.39 −0.17 pp
2004 69.55 −0.13 pp
2003 69.68 −0.16 pp
2002 69.84 −0.15 pp
2001 69.99 −0.1 pp
2000 70.09 −0.05 pp
1999 70.13 −0.02 pp
1998 70.16 −0.03 pp
1997 70.18 −0.03 pp
1996 70.21 +0.01 pp
1995 70.21 +0.01 pp
1994 70.19 −0.08 pp
1993 70.27 −0.1 pp
1992 70.37 +0.01 pp
1991 70.36 +0.07 pp
1990 70.29

About the indicator

The share of the population aged 15 and over that belongs to the labor force. It shows how fully a country uses its labor potential. The decline in advanced countries comes from an aging population and longer years of schooling, while low values in developing ones usually come from limited participation by women.

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