Puerto Rico (US) — Labor participation
Labor Force Participation Rate for Puerto Rico (US), 1990–2025.
Labor participation for Puerto Rico (US) was 42.78% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 36 years, from 1990 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 47.70% in 1997. The lowest was 38.02% in 2015 (about 1.1× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -0.12% per year.
Puerto Rico (US) ranks 171 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 91%. The median for Latin America & Caribbean is 63.14%, so Puerto Rico (US) sits below it. It peaked in 1997 and has fallen 10% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved up 13%. Within Latin America & Caribbean it ranks 31 of 31 economies; Venezuela, RB (51.93%) is just above it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 5% in 2021. That is 7% above this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
World ranking. Climbed: 178th of 187 in 1990 → 175th of 187 in 2000 → 179th of 187 in 2010 → 179th of 187 in 2020 → 167th of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2025
| Year | % of population ages 15+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 42.78% | +0.2 pp |
| 2024 | 42.62% | +0.5 pp |
| 2023 | 42.13% | +0.3 pp |
| 2022 | 41.83% | +0.5 pp |
| 2021 | 41.29% | +2.0 pp |
| 2020 | 39.25% | +0.7 pp |
| 2019 | 38.59% | +0.0 pp |
| 2018 | 38.58% | +0.3 pp |
| 2017 | 38.24% | +0.1 pp |
| 2016 | 38.16% | +0.1 pp |
| 2015 | 38.02% | -0.3 pp |
| 2014 | 38.29% | -1.0 pp |
| 2013 | 39.3% | -0.6 pp |
| 2012 | 39.9% | -0.6 pp |
| 2011 | 40.5% | -1.4 pp |
| 2010 | 41.9% | -1.3 pp |
| 2009 | 43.2% | -1.6 pp |
| 2008 | 44.8% | -1.3 pp |
| 2007 | 46.13% | -1.1 pp |
| 2006 | 47.23% | -0.5 pp |
| 2005 | 47.7% | +1.0 pp |
| 2004 | 46.67% | -0.0 pp |
| 2003 | 46.71% | +0.5 pp |
| 2002 | 46.2% | +0.1 pp |
| 2001 | 46.07% | +0.1 pp |
| 2000 | 45.94% | -1.4 pp |
| 1999 | 47.33% | -0.2 pp |
| 1998 | 47.55% | -0.2 pp |
| 1997 | 47.7% | +0.8 pp |
| 1996 | 46.88% | +0.8 pp |
| 1995 | 46.1% | -0.5 pp |
| 1994 | 46.61% | -0.5 pp |
| 1993 | 47.12% | +1.5 pp |
| 1992 | 45.57% | -0.1 pp |
| 1991 | 45.64% | +1.0 pp |
| 1990 | 44.59% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Puerto Rico (US)’s Labor participation in 1991?
45.64% (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 Puerto Rico (US)’s Labor participation growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -4.1% 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: 42.78%; 2024: 42.62%; 2023: 42.13%; 2022: 41.83%; 2021: 41.29%. 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.