EU countries by activity rate

The Netherlands had the highest activity rate of 27 EU countries in 2015, at 82.1%. Romania had the lowest, at 59.9%. The median was 72.2% and the figure for the European Union (27) was 71.5%. Source: Eurostat, European Commission.

Highest82.1Netherlands
Lowest59.9Romania
Median72.227 EU countries
European Union (27)71.5History

All EU countries, 2015

CSVChart (SVG)

NetherlandsNetherlands: 82.1 %82.1SwedenSweden: 81.5 %81.5EstoniaEstonia: 77 %77DenmarkDenmark: 76.9 %76.9GermanyGermany: 76.5 %76.5AustriaAustria: 75.8 %75.8LatviaLatvia: 75.7 %75.7FinlandFinland: 74.8 %74.8SpainSpain: 74.3 %74.3LithuaniaLithuania: 74.1 %74.1CzechiaCzechia: 74 %74CyprusCyprus: 73.9 %73.9SlovakiaSlovakia: 72.9 %72.9PortugalPortugal: 72.2 %72.2FranceFrance: 72.1 %72.1IrelandIreland: 72 %72SloveniaSlovenia: 71.2 %71.2LuxembourgLuxembourg: 70.9 %70.9HungaryHungary: 70.5 %70.5BulgariaBulgaria: 69.2 %69.2MaltaMalta: 68.8 %68.8BelgiumBelgium: 67.7 %67.7GreeceGreece: 67.7 %67.7CroatiaCroatia: 66.9 %66.9PolandPoland: 66.8 %66.8ItalyItaly: 63.8 %63.8RomaniaRomania: 59.9 %59.9
%. Source: Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Full ranking

RankEU countries2015 (%)Change on 2014
1Netherlands82.1+0.6 pts
2Sweden81.5+0.2 pts
3Estonia77+1.1 pts
4Denmark76.9+0.3 pts
5Germany76.50 pts
6Austria75.8+0.1 pts
7Latvia75.7+1.3 pts
8Finland74.8+0.2 pts
9Spain74.3+0.1 pts
10Lithuania74.1+0.4 pts
11Czechia74+0.5 pts
12Cyprus73.9-0.4 pts
13Slovakia72.9+0.7 pts
14Portugal72.2+0.4 pts
15France72.1+0.2 pts
16Ireland72+0.2 pts
17Slovenia71.2+0.8 pts
18Luxembourg Series break70.9+0.1 pts
19Hungary70.5+1.7 pts
20Bulgaria69.2+0.3 pts
21Malta68.8+1 pts
22Belgium67.7-0.1 pts
22Greece67.7+0.4 pts
24Croatia66.9+0.9 pts
25Poland66.8+0.4 pts
26Italy63.8+0.2 pts
27Romania59.9+1.1 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Labour force (employed plus unemployed) as a percentage of the population aged 16 and over (Spain, EPA) or 15 to 64 (EU).

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the EU countries are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

Eurostat. Employment and activity by sex and age, annual data, activity rate 15 to 64 (lfsi_emp_a). https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/lfsi_emp_a/default/table. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

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Questions

Which EU country has the highest activity rate?

The Netherlands, with 82.1% in 2015, according to Eurostat, European Commission.

Which EU country has the lowest activity rate?

Romania, with 59.9% in 2015.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: Eurostat, European Commission, Employment and activity by sex and age, annual data, activity rate 15 to 64 (lfsi_emp_a). Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Activity rate: other rankings

EU countries: more rankings