Timor-Leste — Labor participation
Labor Force Participation Rate for Timor-Leste, 1990–2025.
Labor participation for Timor-Leste was 66.98% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 36 years, from 1990 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 72.65% in 1999. The lowest was 65.92% in 2020 (about 1.0× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -0.20% per year.
Timor-Leste ranks 46 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 25%. The median for East Asia & Pacific is 64.35%, so Timor-Leste sits above it. It peaked in 1999 and has fallen 8% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved up 0%. Within East Asia & Pacific it ranks 9 of 29 economies; Thailand (66.68%) is just below it.
Data highlights
World ranking. Slipped: 35th of 187 in 1990 → 39th of 187 in 2000 → 43rd of 187 in 2010 → 45th of 187 in 2020 → 45th of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2025
| Year | % of population ages 15+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 66.98% | +0.2 pp |
| 2024 | 66.76% | +0.2 pp |
| 2023 | 66.58% | +0.0 pp |
| 2022 | 66.56% | +0.1 pp |
| 2021 | 66.47% | +0.6 pp |
| 2020 | 65.92% | -0.6 pp |
| 2019 | 66.51% | -0.7 pp |
| 2018 | 67.2% | +0.1 pp |
| 2017 | 67.06% | +0.2 pp |
| 2016 | 66.82% | -0.1 pp |
| 2015 | 66.88% | -0.1 pp |
| 2014 | 66.98% | -0.2 pp |
| 2013 | 67.16% | -0.1 pp |
| 2012 | 67.26% | -0.1 pp |
| 2011 | 67.41% | -0.2 pp |
| 2010 | 67.65% | -0.5 pp |
| 2009 | 68.13% | -0.5 pp |
| 2008 | 68.67% | -0.6 pp |
| 2007 | 69.22% | -0.5 pp |
| 2006 | 69.69% | +0.2 pp |
| 2005 | 69.45% | -0.2 pp |
| 2004 | 69.62% | -0.1 pp |
| 2003 | 69.75% | +0.1 pp |
| 2002 | 69.66% | +0.4 pp |
| 2001 | 69.22% | -0.5 pp |
| 2000 | 69.68% | -3.0 pp |
| 1999 | 72.65% | +1.5 pp |
| 1998 | 71.18% | +0.2 pp |
| 1997 | 71.03% | -0.1 pp |
| 1996 | 71.1% | -0.2 pp |
| 1995 | 71.29% | -0.1 pp |
| 1994 | 71.36% | -0.0 pp |
| 1993 | 71.41% | -0.2 pp |
| 1992 | 71.57% | -0.2 pp |
| 1991 | 71.73% | -0.2 pp |
| 1990 | 71.9% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Timor-Leste’s Labor participation in 1991?
71.73% (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 Timor-Leste’s Labor participation growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -6.8% 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: 66.98%; 2024: 66.76%; 2023: 66.58%; 2022: 66.56%; 2021: 66.47%. 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.