Brazil — Labor participation
Labor Force Participation Rate for Brazil, 1990–2025.
Labor participation for Brazil was 63.14% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 36 years, from 1990 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 68.05% in 2005. The lowest was 60.48% in 2020 (about 1.0× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -0.07% per year.
Brazil ranks 83 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 44%. The median for Latin America & Caribbean is 63.14%, so Brazil sits level with it. It peaked in 2005 and has fallen 7% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 2%. Within Latin America & Caribbean it ranks 16 of 31 economies; Chile (62.30%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was down 7% in 2020.
Data highlights
World ranking. Slipped: 69th of 187 in 1990 → 57th of 187 in 2000 → 57th of 187 in 2010 → 90th of 187 in 2020 → 82nd of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2025
| Year | % of population ages 15+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 63.14% | -0.2 pp |
| 2024 | 63.34% | +0.4 pp |
| 2023 | 62.92% | -0.6 pp |
| 2022 | 63.53% | +1.1 pp |
| 2021 | 62.46% | +2.0 pp |
| 2020 | 60.48% | -4.4 pp |
| 2019 | 64.89% | +0.4 pp |
| 2018 | 64.5% | -0.0 pp |
| 2017 | 64.53% | +0.2 pp |
| 2016 | 64.29% | +0.0 pp |
| 2015 | 64.28% | +0.2 pp |
| 2014 | 64.04% | -0.3 pp |
| 2013 | 64.31% | -0.1 pp |
| 2012 | 64.41% | -0.5 pp |
| 2011 | 64.87% | -1.3 pp |
| 2010 | 66.15% | -1.3 pp |
| 2009 | 67.4% | +0.2 pp |
| 2008 | 67.17% | -0.1 pp |
| 2007 | 67.3% | -0.4 pp |
| 2006 | 67.71% | -0.3 pp |
| 2005 | 68.05% | +0.7 pp |
| 2004 | 67.36% | +0.5 pp |
| 2003 | 66.9% | -0.1 pp |
| 2002 | 66.97% | +0.9 pp |
| 2001 | 66.03% | +0.2 pp |
| 2000 | 65.81% | +0.2 pp |
| 1999 | 65.6% | +0.7 pp |
| 1998 | 64.92% | +0.1 pp |
| 1997 | 64.79% | +0.8 pp |
| 1996 | 63.95% | -1.7 pp |
| 1995 | 65.66% | +0.2 pp |
| 1994 | 65.45% | +0.2 pp |
| 1993 | 65.23% | +0.2 pp |
| 1992 | 64.98% | +0.3 pp |
| 1991 | 64.72% | +0.0 pp |
| 1990 | 64.68% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Brazil’s Labor participation in 1991?
64.72% (1991). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of population ages 15+, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Brazil’s Labor participation growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -2.4% in total — about 0.1% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 63.14%; 2024: 63.34%; 2023: 62.92%; 2022: 63.53%; 2021: 62.46%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SL.TLF.CACT.ZS — Labor Force Participation Rate. Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.