Labor force participation rate — all countries

Labor force participation rate — Lower-middle-income countries

Labor force participation rate in lower-middle-income countries in 2025 — 58.73%. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 1.21 pp.

2025 58.73% −0 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 60.89%2000
Period minimum 56.08%2020

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Labor force participation rate — Lower-middle-income countries, 1990–20255658606219901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 59.94%1991: 59.98%1992: 60.02%1993: 60.05%1994: 60.14%1995: 60.19%1996: 60.35%1997: 60.51%1998: 60.65%1999: 60.83%2000: 60.89%2001: 60.82%2002: 60.66%2003: 60.61%2004: 60.58%2005: 60.53%2006: 60.05%2007: 59.64%2008: 59.13%2009: 58.83%2010: 58.49%2011: 58.11%2012: 57.81%2013: 57.71%2014: 57.58%2015: 57.54%2016: 57.44%2017: 57.27%2018: 57.13%2019: 57.03%2020: 56.08%2021: 56.85%2022: 57.71%2023: 58.37%2024: 58.73%2025: 58.73%
Change over the period: −1.21 pp Annual average: -0.03 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Lower-middle-income countries 58.73%
World 60.98%
Labor force participation rate — Lower-middle-income countries, by year Lower-middle-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 58.73 −0 pp
2024 58.73 +0.36 pp
2023 58.37 +0.66 pp
2022 57.71 +0.86 pp
2021 56.85 +0.78 pp
2020 56.08 −0.96 pp
2019 57.03 −0.1 pp
2018 57.13 −0.13 pp
2017 57.27 −0.17 pp
2016 57.44 −0.09 pp
2015 57.54 −0.04 pp
2014 57.58 −0.14 pp
2013 57.71 −0.09 pp
2012 57.81 −0.31 pp
2011 58.11 −0.38 pp
2010 58.49 −0.33 pp
2009 58.83 −0.3 pp
2008 59.13 −0.51 pp
2007 59.64 −0.41 pp
2006 60.05 −0.47 pp
2005 60.53 −0.05 pp
2004 60.58 −0.03 pp
2003 60.61 −0.04 pp
2002 60.66 −0.16 pp
2001 60.82 −0.08 pp
2000 60.89 +0.06 pp
1999 60.83 +0.18 pp
1998 60.65 +0.14 pp
1997 60.51 +0.17 pp
1996 60.35 +0.16 pp
1995 60.19 +0.05 pp
1994 60.14 +0.09 pp
1993 60.05 +0.04 pp
1992 60.02 +0.04 pp
1991 59.98 +0.04 pp
1990 59.94

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.