Labor force participation rate — all countries

Labor force participation rate — South America

Labor force participation rate in South America in 2025 — 63.64%. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 0.38 pp.

2025 63.64% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 66.71%2009
Period minimum 60.43%2020

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Labor force participation rate — South America, 1990–2025606264666819901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 63.27%1991: 63.47%1992: 63.76%1993: 64.1%1994: 64.42%1995: 64.75%1996: 64.08%1997: 64.77%1998: 65.02%1999: 65.21%2000: 65.04%2001: 65.31%2002: 65.52%2003: 65.71%2004: 66.27%2005: 66.52%2006: 66.62%2007: 66.4%2008: 66.33%2009: 66.71%2010: 66.07%2011: 65.51%2012: 65.33%2013: 65.04%2014: 64.72%2015: 64.81%2016: 64.76%2017: 64.94%2018: 64.89%2019: 64.92%2020: 60.43%2021: 62.73%2022: 63.72%2023: 63.5%2024: 63.74%2025: 63.64%
Change over the period: +0.38 pp Annual average: 0.01 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South America

South America 63.64%
World 60.98%
Labor force participation rate — South America, by year South America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 63.64 −0.1 pp
2024 63.74 +0.23 pp
2023 63.5 −0.22 pp
2022 63.72 +0.99 pp
2021 62.73 +2.3 pp
2020 60.43 −4.49 pp
2019 64.92 +0.03 pp
2018 64.89 −0.06 pp
2017 64.94 +0.18 pp
2016 64.76 −0.05 pp
2015 64.81 +0.09 pp
2014 64.72 −0.31 pp
2013 65.04 −0.29 pp
2012 65.33 −0.18 pp
2011 65.51 −0.56 pp
2010 66.07 −0.64 pp
2009 66.71 +0.38 pp
2008 66.33 −0.07 pp
2007 66.4 −0.22 pp
2006 66.62 +0.1 pp
2005 66.52 +0.24 pp
2004 66.27 +0.56 pp
2003 65.71 +0.2 pp
2002 65.52 +0.2 pp
2001 65.31 +0.27 pp
2000 65.04 −0.17 pp
1999 65.21 +0.19 pp
1998 65.02 +0.25 pp
1997 64.77 +0.69 pp
1996 64.08 −0.66 pp
1995 64.75 +0.32 pp
1994 64.42 +0.32 pp
1993 64.1 +0.34 pp
1992 63.76 +0.29 pp
1991 63.47 +0.21 pp
1990 63.27

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.