United Kingdom — Labor participation
Labor Force Participation Rate for United Kingdom, 1990–2025.
Labor participation for United Kingdom was 61.37% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 36 years, from 1990 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 62.63% in 2019. The lowest was 60.63% in 1995 (about 1.0× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -0.05% per year.
United Kingdom ranks 95 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 51%. The median for Europe & Central Asia is 60.12%, so United Kingdom sits above it. It peaked in 2019 and has fallen 2% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 1%. Within Europe & Central Asia it ranks 18 of 49 economies; Russian Federation (61.11%) is just below it.
Data highlights
World ranking. Slipped: 87th of 187 in 1990 → 91st of 187 in 2000 → 86th of 187 in 2010 → 73rd of 187 in 2020 → 94th of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2025
| Year | % of population ages 15+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 61.37% | -0.2 pp |
| 2024 | 61.56% | -0.3 pp |
| 2023 | 61.81% | -0.1 pp |
| 2022 | 61.91% | -0.1 pp |
| 2021 | 61.97% | -0.6 pp |
| 2020 | 62.57% | -0.1 pp |
| 2019 | 62.63% | +0.0 pp |
| 2018 | 62.62% | +0.2 pp |
| 2017 | 62.41% | +0.0 pp |
| 2016 | 62.41% | +0.2 pp |
| 2015 | 62.25% | +0.1 pp |
| 2014 | 62.13% | +0.1 pp |
| 2013 | 62.01% | +0.0 pp |
| 2012 | 61.99% | +0.2 pp |
| 2011 | 61.78% | -0.0 pp |
| 2010 | 61.8% | -0.2 pp |
| 2009 | 61.99% | -0.2 pp |
| 2008 | 62.19% | +0.2 pp |
| 2007 | 61.94% | -0.2 pp |
| 2006 | 62.1% | +0.4 pp |
| 2005 | 61.67% | +0.2 pp |
| 2004 | 61.42% | +0.0 pp |
| 2003 | 61.37% | +0.1 pp |
| 2002 | 61.25% | +0.3 pp |
| 2001 | 60.97% | -0.4 pp |
| 2000 | 61.34% | +0.2 pp |
| 1999 | 61.09% | +0.3 pp |
| 1998 | 60.77% | -0.1 pp |
| 1997 | 60.86% | +0.2 pp |
| 1996 | 60.7% | +0.1 pp |
| 1995 | 60.63% | -0.2 pp |
| 1994 | 60.83% | -0.2 pp |
| 1993 | 61.03% | -0.5 pp |
| 1992 | 61.54% | -0.4 pp |
| 1991 | 61.98% | -0.4 pp |
| 1990 | 62.38% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was United Kingdom’s Labor participation in 1991?
61.98% (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 United Kingdom’s Labor participation growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -1.6% in total.
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: 61.37%; 2024: 61.56%; 2023: 61.81%; 2022: 61.91%; 2021: 61.97%. 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.