Papua New Guinea Labor Force Participation
Labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.ZS
Papua New Guinea's labor force participation was 52.07% in 2025, ranked 150th globally. This represents a 0.2% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Papua New Guinea's labor force participation stood at 52.07% in 2025, a rise of +0.11pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 52.16% by 2026. Papua New Guinea ranked 150th globally.
Papua New Guinea's labor force participation rate has shown a gradual upward trend over the past three and a half decades, with the latest figure standing at 52.07% in 2025. This marks a significant improvement from the all-time low of 47.95% recorded in 1994. The country's labor force participation rate has surpassed that of several peer nations, including Croatia, where the rate is 52.14%. Despite this progress, Papua New Guinea still ranks 150 globally in terms of labor force participation, indicating room for further improvement. The labor force participation rate in Papua New Guinea has been increasing since the 1990s, when the rate was 48.60%. This growth can be attributed to various economic and social development initiatives undertaken by the government. However, a decline in government spending or a significant economic downturn could potentially alter the trajectory of labor force participation in Papua New Guinea, and it remains to be seen whether the current trend will continue in the face of future economic challenges.
Data & projection
| Year | Labor Force Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 52.31% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 52.24% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 52.16% | - | - |
| 2025 | 52.07% | +0.11pp | #150 |
| 2024 | 51.96% | −0.00pp | #152 |
| 2023 | 51.96% | −0.03pp | #151 |
| 2022 | 51.99% | +0.32pp | #153 |
| 2021 | 51.67% | +0.67pp | #152 |
| 2020 | 51.00% | −0.13pp | #150 |
| 2019 | 51.14% | +0.31pp | #156 |
| 2018 | 50.83% | +0.41pp | #157 |
| 2017 | 50.42% | +0.33pp | #159 |
| 2016 | 50.09% | +0.29pp | #160 |
| 2015 | 49.80% | +0.27pp | #160 |
| 2014 | 49.53% | +0.14pp | #160 |
| 2013 | 49.39% | +0.34pp | #160 |
| 2012 | 49.06% | +0.32pp | #161 |
| 2011 | 48.74% | +0.40pp | #163 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Papua New Guinea matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2022. 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
Papua New Guinea's labor force participation was 52.07% in 2025. Ranked 150th globally. This represents a 0.2% increase from the previous year.
Papua New Guinea's labor force participation peaked at 52.07% in 2025.
The lowest labor force participation in Papua New Guinea was 47.95% in 1994.
Papua New Guinea ranks 150th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Papua New Guinea's labor force participation is projected to reach 52.16% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The labor force participation of Papua New Guinea in 2025 was 52.07%. This ranks 150th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_papua-new-guinea_labor-force-participation,
title = {Papua New Guinea Labor Force Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/papua-new-guinea/labor-force-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}