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Timor-Leste Labor Force Participation

Labor force participation rate  SL.TLF.CACT.ZS

66.98% +0.22pp (+0.3%)
Year 2025 Rank #44 Global Peak 72.65% (1999) Source World Bank

Timor-Leste Labor Force Participation (1990–2025)

Overview

Timor-Leste's labor force participation stood at 66.98% in 2025, a rise of +0.22pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 67.04% by 2026. Timor-Leste ranked 44th globally.

Data & projection

Year Labor Force Participation YoY change Rank
2028* trend 67.28% - -
2027* trend 67.16% - -
2026* trend 67.04% - -
2025 66.98% +0.22pp #44
2024 66.76% +0.19pp #47
2023 66.58% +0.02pp #49
2022 66.56% +0.09pp #47
2021 66.47% +0.55pp #42
2020 65.92% −0.59pp #44
2019 66.51% −0.69pp #48
2018 67.20% +0.15pp #45
2017 67.06% +0.24pp #44
2016 66.82% −0.06pp #46
2015 66.88% −0.10pp #47
2014 66.98% −0.18pp #46
2013 67.16% −0.10pp #45
2012 67.26% −0.15pp #46
2011 67.41% −0.24pp #43
Show all years (1990-2025)
* Linear trend extrapolation

Detected Pattern

Export Boom Cycle
Current account surplus with strong export growth (>15% YoY), reserve accumulation, and moderate GDP growth. Typical of commodity exporters during price surges.
Reserves YoY +42.4% GDP growth 5.4% C/A balance 54.8%
Occurred 768 times, 546 successful
Reserves YoY
+25.6%
GDP growth
4.0%
C/A balance
14.5%
Reserves YoY
+14.6%
GDP growth
3.7%
C/A balance
2.9%
Reserves YoY
+12.8%
GDP growth
43.8%
C/A balance
16.4%
Reserves YoY
+12.6%
GDP growth
6.0%
C/A balance
0.5%
Reserves YoY
+38.3%
GDP growth
5.0%
C/A balance
1.2%
Reserves YoY
+18.0%
GDP growth
2.9%
C/A balance
3.9%

Analysis

Timor-Leste 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

What is Timor-Leste's labor force participation?

Timor-Leste's labor force participation was 66.98% in 2025. Ranked 44th globally. This represents a 0.3% increase from the previous year.

What was the highest labor force participation in Timor-Leste?

Timor-Leste's labor force participation peaked at 72.65% in 1999.

What was the lowest labor force participation in Timor-Leste?

The lowest labor force participation in Timor-Leste was 65.92% in 2020.

How does Timor-Leste rank in labor force participation?

Timor-Leste ranks 44th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.

What is the World Bank indicator code for labor force participation?

The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.

What is the projected labor force participation of Timor-Leste in 2026?

Timor-Leste's labor force participation is projected to reach 67.04% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.

What is the labor force participation of Timor-Leste in 2025?

The labor force participation of Timor-Leste in 2025 was 66.98%. This ranks 44th in the world.

Cite this page

APA
Timor-Leste Labor Force Participation. HistorySaid. Retrieved April 2, 2026, from https://historysaid.com/timor-leste/labor-force-participation
BibTeX
@misc{historysaid_timor-leste_labor-force-participation, title = {Timor-Leste Labor Force Participation}, url = {https://historysaid.com/timor-leste/labor-force-participation}, publisher = {HistorySaid}, year = {2026} }