Croatia Labor Force Participation
Labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.ZS
Croatia's labor force participation was 52.14% in 2025, ranked 149th globally. This represents a 0.4% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Croatia's labor force participation stood at 52.14% in 2025, a decline of +0.21pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 52.28% by 2026. Croatia ranked 149th globally.
Croatia’s labor force participation has slipped from its all‑time peak of 57.73 % in 1990 to a 2025 level of 52.14 %, placing the country 149th in the world. The decline accelerated after the early 2000s, reaching an all‑time trough of 50.76 % in 2013 before a modest recovery that has lifted participation just above the 52 % mark. This recent figure is closely aligned with peer economies such as Cuba (52.25 %) and Papua New Guinea (52.07 %), suggesting that Croatia now shares a similar labor market depth with nations that face comparable demographic and structural challenges. The 36‑year coverage shows a persistent downward bias, reflecting ageing demographics, modest job creation, and limited female labor market entry. Continued reforms to improve childcare provision, flexible working arrangements, and skills upgrading could reverse the long‑term slide and push participation upward in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Labor Force Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 52.29% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 52.28% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 52.28% | - | - |
| 2025 | 52.14% | −0.21pp | #149 |
| 2024 | 52.36% | +0.10pp | #148 |
| 2023 | 52.26% | −0.25pp | #150 |
| 2022 | 52.51% | +0.47pp | #151 |
| 2021 | 52.04% | +1.07pp | #148 |
| 2020 | 50.97% | +0.10pp | #151 |
| 2019 | 50.87% | −0.07pp | #157 |
| 2018 | 50.94% | −0.45pp | #156 |
| 2017 | 51.39% | +0.23pp | #154 |
| 2016 | 51.16% | −1.43pp | #154 |
| 2015 | 52.59% | +0.40pp | #150 |
| 2014 | 52.18% | +1.43pp | #149 |
| 2013 | 50.76% | −0.57pp | #155 |
| 2012 | 51.33% | −0.43pp | #152 |
| 2011 | 51.76% | −0.78pp | #150 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Croatia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw labor force participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Croatia's labor force participation was 52.14% in 2025. Ranked 149th globally. This represents a 0.4% decrease from the previous year.
Croatia's labor force participation peaked at 57.73% in 1990.
The lowest labor force participation in Croatia was 50.76% in 2013.
Croatia ranks 149th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Croatia's labor force participation is projected to reach 52.28% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The labor force participation of Croatia in 2025 was 52.14%. This ranks 149th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_croatia_labor-force-participation,
title = {Croatia Labor Force Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/croatia/labor-force-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}