Türkiye Labor Force Participation
Labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.ZS
Türkiye's labor force participation was 54.38% in 2025, ranked 140th globally. This represents a 0.3% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Türkiye's labor force participation stood at 54.38% in 2025, a rise of +0.18pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 55.42% by 2026. Türkiye ranked 140th globally.
Turkey’s labor force participation rate stood at 54.38 % in 2025, placing it 140th in the world and just below the Virgin Islands (US) at 54.36 % and marginally above Belgium at 54.27 %. The indicator has trended downward since the early 1990s, when participation peaked at 57.00 % in 1991, and fell to a historic low of 46.23 % in 2007 before a gradual recovery. Over the 36‑year span from 1990 to 2025, the rate has declined by 2.23 percentage points from its earliest observation of 56.61 %, reflecting structural shifts such as aging demographics, rising female educational attainment and a gradual move away from labor‑intensive sectors. The modest rebound to above 54 % suggests that policy measures aimed at expanding flexible work arrangements and enhancing vocational training could sustain the recent upward trajectory, while further demographic pressures may temper future gains.
Data & projection
| Year | Labor Force Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 56.85% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 56.14% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 55.42% | - | - |
| 2025 | 54.38% | +0.18pp | #140 |
| 2024 | 54.20% | +0.89pp | #142 |
| 2023 | 53.31% | +0.26pp | #146 |
| 2022 | 53.06% | +1.70pp | #147 |
| 2021 | 51.36% | +2.03pp | #154 |
| 2020 | 49.33% | −3.62pp | #159 |
| 2019 | 52.95% | −0.26pp | #146 |
| 2018 | 53.21% | +0.38pp | #148 |
| 2017 | 52.83% | +0.83pp | #150 |
| 2016 | 52.00% | +0.70pp | #152 |
| 2015 | 51.30% | +0.79pp | #153 |
| 2014 | 50.51% | −0.33pp | #157 |
| 2013 | 50.84% | +0.88pp | #154 |
| 2012 | 49.96% | +0.09pp | #157 |
| 2011 | 49.86% | +1.06pp | #156 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Türkiye matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2020. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw labor force participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Türkiye's labor force participation was 54.38% in 2025. Ranked 140th globally. This represents a 0.3% increase from the previous year.
Türkiye's labor force participation peaked at 57.00% in 1991.
The lowest labor force participation in Türkiye was 46.23% in 2007.
Türkiye ranks 140th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Türkiye's labor force participation is projected to reach 55.42% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The labor force participation of Türkiye in 2025 was 54.38%. This ranks 140th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_turkiye_labor-force-participation,
title = {Türkiye Labor Force Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/turkiye/labor-force-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}