Guatemala — Labor participation
Labor Force Participation Rate for Guatemala, 1990–2025.
Labor participation for Guatemala was 59.62% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 36 years, from 1990 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 67.78% in 2003. The lowest was 58.76% in 2020 (about 1.0× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -0.30% per year.
Guatemala ranks 107 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 57%. The median for Latin America & Caribbean is 63.14%, so Guatemala sits below it. It peaked in 2003 and has fallen 12% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 2%. Within Latin America & Caribbean it ranks 21 of 31 economies; Belize (59.10%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was down 8% in 2013.
Data highlights
World ranking. Slipped: 60th of 187 in 1990 → 52nd of 187 in 2000 → 98th of 187 in 2010 → 106th of 187 in 2020 → 106th of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2025
| Year | % of population ages 15+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 59.62% | -0.1 pp |
| 2024 | 59.7% | +0.1 pp |
| 2023 | 59.59% | -0.7 pp |
| 2022 | 60.24% | -2.7 pp |
| 2021 | 62.94% | +4.2 pp |
| 2020 | 58.76% | -0.4 pp |
| 2019 | 59.17% | -1.3 pp |
| 2018 | 60.5% | -0.4 pp |
| 2017 | 60.94% | +0.3 pp |
| 2016 | 60.69% | +0.1 pp |
| 2015 | 60.6% | -0.1 pp |
| 2014 | 60.73% | +0.5 pp |
| 2013 | 60.22% | -4.9 pp |
| 2012 | 65.12% | +3.7 pp |
| 2011 | 61.4% | +0.9 pp |
| 2010 | 60.46% | -0.4 pp |
| 2009 | 60.91% | -0.4 pp |
| 2008 | 61.35% | -0.4 pp |
| 2007 | 61.79% | -0.4 pp |
| 2006 | 62.24% | -0.4 pp |
| 2005 | 62.67% | -0.4 pp |
| 2004 | 63.11% | -4.7 pp |
| 2003 | 67.78% | +0.8 pp |
| 2002 | 66.95% | +0.1 pp |
| 2001 | 66.89% | +0.0 pp |
| 2000 | 66.89% | +0.0 pp |
| 1999 | 66.85% | +0.0 pp |
| 1998 | 66.8% | +0.1 pp |
| 1997 | 66.71% | +0.1 pp |
| 1996 | 66.64% | +0.0 pp |
| 1995 | 66.62% | +0.1 pp |
| 1994 | 66.54% | +0.1 pp |
| 1993 | 66.48% | +0.0 pp |
| 1992 | 66.44% | +0.1 pp |
| 1991 | 66.35% | +0.0 pp |
| 1990 | 66.32% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Guatemala’s Labor participation in 1991?
66.35% (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 Guatemala’s Labor participation growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -10.1% in total — about 0.3% 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: 59.62%; 2024: 59.7%; 2023: 59.59%; 2022: 60.24%; 2021: 62.94%. 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.