North Macedonia — Labor participation
Labor Force Participation Rate for North Macedonia, 1990–2025.
Labor participation for North Macedonia was 51.94% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 36 years, from 1990 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 56.27% in 1991. The lowest was 51.62% in 2021 (about 1.0× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -0.22% per year.
North Macedonia ranks 155 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 83%. The median for Europe & Central Asia is 60.12%, so North Macedonia sits below it. It peaked in 1991 and has fallen 8% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 4%. Within Europe & Central Asia it ranks 44 of 49 economies; Romania (51.33%) is just below it.
Data highlights
World ranking. Slipped: 136th of 187 in 1990 → 149th of 187 in 2000 → 144th of 187 in 2010 → 146th of 187 in 2020 → 153rd of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2025
| Year | % of population ages 15+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 51.94% | -0.3 pp |
| 2024 | 52.2% | +0.5 pp |
| 2023 | 51.75% | -1.2 pp |
| 2022 | 52.93% | +1.3 pp |
| 2021 | 51.62% | -0.5 pp |
| 2020 | 52.11% | -0.9 pp |
| 2019 | 53.02% | +0.2 pp |
| 2018 | 52.8% | -0.4 pp |
| 2017 | 53.16% | -0.3 pp |
| 2016 | 53.44% | -0.6 pp |
| 2015 | 54% | -0.6 pp |
| 2014 | 54.61% | -0.1 pp |
| 2013 | 54.67% | +0.4 pp |
| 2012 | 54.27% | -0.3 pp |
| 2011 | 54.53% | +1.3 pp |
| 2010 | 53.19% | -1.5 pp |
| 2009 | 54.7% | +0.0 pp |
| 2008 | 54.7% | +0.4 pp |
| 2007 | 54.28% | +1.0 pp |
| 2006 | 53.25% | -0.0 pp |
| 2005 | 53.27% | -0.1 pp |
| 2004 | 53.37% | -0.1 pp |
| 2003 | 53.48% | +0.5 pp |
| 2002 | 53.03% | +0.1 pp |
| 2001 | 52.91% | +0.2 pp |
| 2000 | 52.74% | +0.2 pp |
| 1999 | 52.59% | -0.6 pp |
| 1998 | 53.17% | -0.6 pp |
| 1997 | 53.79% | -0.2 pp |
| 1996 | 54.01% | -0.4 pp |
| 1995 | 54.38% | -0.5 pp |
| 1994 | 54.85% | -0.5 pp |
| 1993 | 55.35% | -0.5 pp |
| 1992 | 55.81% | -0.5 pp |
| 1991 | 56.27% | +0.2 pp |
| 1990 | 56.03% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was North Macedonia’s Labor participation in 1991?
56.27% (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 North Macedonia’s Labor participation growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -7.3% in total — about 0.2% 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: 51.94%; 2024: 52.2%; 2023: 51.75%; 2022: 52.93%; 2021: 51.62%. 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.