EU countries by employment-population ratio, ages 15 and over

The Netherlands had the highest employment-population ratio, ages 15 and over of 27 EU countries in 2022, at 64.9%. Italy had the lowest, at 45.1%. The median was 57.4%. Source: the World Bank.

Highest64.9Netherlands
Lowest45.1Italy
Median57.427 EU countries

All EU countries, 2022

Netherlands: 64.9 %Netherlands64.9Cyprus: 63 %Cyprus63Malta: 61.8 %Malta61.8Ireland: 61.6 %Ireland61.6Estonia: 61.5 %Estonia61.5Denmark: 60.7 %Denmark60.7Sweden: 59.8 %Sweden59.8Lithuania: 59 %Lithuania59Germany: 58.9 %Germany58.9Czechia: 58.5 %Czechia58.5Luxembourg: 58.1 %Luxembourg58.1Austria: 57.8 %Austria57.8Hungary: 57.7 %Hungary57.7Slovakia: 57.4 %Slovakia57.4Poland: 57.3 %Poland57.3Latvia: 56.8 %Latvia56.8Slovenia: 56.7 %Slovenia56.7Finland: 56.4 %Finland56.4Bulgaria: 54.4 %Bulgaria54.4Portugal: 54.2 %Portugal54.2France: 51.8 %France51.8Belgium: 51.5 %Belgium51.5Spain: 50.1 %Spain50.1Romania: 49.7 %Romania49.7Croatia: 48.9 %Croatia48.9Greece: 45.4 %Greece45.4Italy: 45.1 %Italy45.1
%. Source: World Bank (modelled estimate), Employment to population ratio, 15+, total, %, modeled ILO estimate (SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS). Retrieved 2026-10-11.

Full ranking

RankEU countries2022 (%)Change on 2021
1Netherlands64.9+1.1 pts
2Cyprus63+1.5 pts
3Malta61.8+1.7 pts
4Ireland61.6+2.1 pts
5Estonia61.5+2.2 pts
6Denmark60.7+1.2 pts
7Sweden59.8+1.2 pts
8Lithuania59+1.1 pts
9Germany58.9+0.7 pts
10Czechia58.5+0.7 pts
11Luxembourg58.1+0.1 pts
12Austria57.8+1.1 pts
13Hungary57.7+1 pts
14Slovakia57.4+1.3 pts
15Poland57.3+0.5 pts
16Latvia56.8+1.2 pts
17Slovenia56.7+1.1 pts
18Finland56.4+1.1 pts
19Bulgaria54.4+1.9 pts
20Portugal54.2+1.2 pts
21France51.8+0.6 pts
22Belgium51.5+0.9 pts
23Spain50.1+1.3 pts
24Romania49.7+0.1 pts
25Croatia48.9+0.8 pts
26Greece45.4+2.4 pts
27Italy45.1+1.2 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Employed people as a percentage of the population aged 15 and over. ILO modelled estimates published by the World Bank, annual.

A separate series from employment_population_ratio, which is the US civilian series for ages 16 and over from the Current Population Survey. This one covers ages 15 and over for countries and the World.

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

World Bank, World Development Indicators, modelled estimate. Employment to population ratio, 15+, total, %, modeled ILO estimate (SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-11.

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Rank EU countries by employment-population ratio, ages 15 and over using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which EU country has the highest employment-population ratio, ages 15 and over?

The Netherlands, with 64.9% in 2022, according to the World Bank.

Which EU country has the lowest employment-population ratio, ages 15 and over?

Italy, with 45.1% in 2022.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: World Bank, Employment to population ratio, 15+, total, %, modeled ILO estimate (SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS). Retrieved 2026-10-11.

Employment-population ratio, ages 15 and over: other rankings

EU countries: more rankings