EU countries by activity rate

The Netherlands had the highest activity rate of 27 EU countries in 2019, at 83.4%. Romania had the lowest, at 63.3%. The median was 74.8% and the figure for the European Union (27) was 73.2%. Source: Eurostat, European Commission.

Highest83.4Netherlands
Lowest63.3Romania
Median74.827 EU countries
European Union (27)73.2History

All EU countries, 2019

CSVChart (SVG)

NetherlandsNetherlands: 83.4 %83.4SwedenSweden: 82.6 %82.6EstoniaEstonia: 79.2 %79.2DenmarkDenmark: 79.1 %79.1GermanyGermany: 78.2 %78.2LithuaniaLithuania: 78 %78AustriaAustria: 77.3 %77.3FinlandFinland: 77.3 %77.3LatviaLatvia: 77.3 %77.3CyprusCyprus: 77.1 %77.1CzechiaCzechia: 76.7 %76.7HungaryHungary: 74.9 %74.9MaltaMalta: 74.8 %74.8PortugalPortugal: 74.8 %74.8SlovakiaSlovakia: 74.7 %74.7SloveniaSlovenia: 74.6 %74.6SpainSpain: 73.8 %73.8BulgariaBulgaria: 73.6 %73.6IrelandIreland: 73.2 %73.2FranceFrance: 72.4 %72.4LuxembourgLuxembourg: 72 %72PolandPoland: 70.1 %70.1BelgiumBelgium: 69.1 %69.1GreeceGreece: 68.5 %68.5CroatiaCroatia: 66.4 %66.4ItalyItaly: 65.7 %65.7RomaniaRomania: 63.3 %63.3
%. Source: Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Full ranking

RankEU countries2019 (%)Change on 2018
1Netherlands83.4+0.7 pts
2Sweden82.6+0.1 pts
3Estonia79.2-0.1 pts
4Denmark79.1+0.9 pts
5Germany78.2+0.6 pts
6Lithuania78+0.7 pts
7Austria77.3+0.2 pts
7Finland77.3+0.3 pts
7Latvia77.3-0.3 pts
10Cyprus77.1+2.1 pts
11Czechia76.7+0.1 pts
12Hungary74.9+0.7 pts
13Malta74.8+0.7 pts
13Portugal74.8+0.4 pts
15Slovakia74.7+0.3 pts
16Slovenia74.6+0.2 pts
17Spain73.8+0.1 pts
18Bulgaria Series break73.6+2.2 pts
19Ireland73.2+0.4 pts
20France72.4-0.2 pts
21Luxembourg72+0.9 pts
22Poland Series break70.1+0.7 pts
23Belgium69.1+0.5 pts
24Greece68.5+0.4 pts
25Croatia66.4+0.3 pts
26Italy65.7+0.1 pts
27Romania63.3+0.9 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 83.4% in 2019, according to Eurostat, European Commission.

Which EU country has the lowest activity rate?

Romania, with 63.3% in 2019.

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