Data / Rankings / Activity rate / EU countries

EU countries by activity rate

The Netherlands had the highest activity rate of 27 EU countries in 2022, at 84.7%. Italy had the lowest, at 65.5%. The median was 76.8% and the figure for the European Union (27) was 74.5%. Source: Eurostat, European Commission.

Highest84.7Netherlands
Lowest65.5Italy
Median76.827 EU countries
European Union (27)74.5History

All EU countries, 2022

CSVChart (SVG)

NetherlandsNetherlands: 84.7 %84.7SwedenSweden: 83.3 %83.3EstoniaEstonia: 81.2 %81.2DenmarkDenmark: 80.4 %80.4FinlandFinland: 79.8 %79.8GermanyGermany: 79.5 %79.5MaltaMalta: 79.3 %79.3CyprusCyprus: 79.2 %79.2LithuaniaLithuania: 78.6 %78.6AustriaAustria: 77.8 %77.8HungaryHungary: 77.3 %77.3CzechiaCzechia: 77.2 %77.2IrelandIreland: 76.8 %76.8LatviaLatvia: 76.8 %76.8PortugalPortugal: 76.2 %76.2SloveniaSlovenia: 76.2 %76.2SlovakiaSlovakia: 76.1 %76.1SpainSpain: 74 %74BulgariaBulgaria: 73.7 %73.7FranceFrance: 73.6 %73.6PolandPoland: 73.6 %73.6LuxembourgLuxembourg: 73.5 %73.5BelgiumBelgium: 70.5 %70.5CroatiaCroatia: 70.1 %70.1GreeceGreece: 69.4 %69.4RomaniaRomania: 66.8 %66.8ItalyItaly: 65.5 %65.5
%. Source: Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Full ranking

RankEU countries2022 (%)Change on 2021
1Netherlands84.7+1 pts
2Sweden83.3+0.7 pts
3Estonia81.2+2.1 pts
4Denmark80.4+0.8 pts
5Finland79.8+1 pts
6Germany79.5+0.8 pts
7Malta79.3+2.2 pts
8Cyprus79.2+1.5 pts
9Lithuania78.6+0.4 pts
10Austria77.8+0.6 pts
11Hungary77.3+1 pts
12Czechia77.2+0.6 pts
13Ireland76.8+2.2 pts
13Latvia76.8+1 pts
15Portugal76.2+1.4 pts
15Slovenia76.2+1.2 pts
17Slovakia76.1+1.5 pts
18Spain74+0.3 pts
19Bulgaria73.7+1.4 pts
20France73.6+0.6 pts
20Poland73.6+0.7 pts
22Luxembourg73.5+0.3 pts
23Belgium70.5+0.8 pts
24Croatia70.1+1.1 pts
25Greece69.4+2.1 pts
26Romania66.8+1.2 pts
27Italy65.5+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 84.7% in 2022, according to Eurostat, European Commission.

Which EU country has the lowest activity rate?

Italy, with 65.5% in 2022.

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