Inactivity rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in United States
United States: Inactivity rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) was 37.58 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Inactivity rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in United States, 1994–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in United States stood at 37.58.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in United States peaked at 38.34 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 32.8, in 1997.
That places United States 36th out of 75 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 32 years of available data.
Inactivity rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 33.34 | — |
| 1995 | 33.28 | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 33.13 | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 32.8 | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 32.91 | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 32.92 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 32.93 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 33.18 | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 33.42 | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 33.76 | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 34.01 | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 33.95 | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 33.82 | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 33.96 | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 34.01 | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 34.63 | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 35.3 | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 35.89 | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 36.3 | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 36.75 | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 37.12 | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 37.35 | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 37.21 | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 37.15 | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 37.13 | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 36.9 | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 38.25 | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 38.34 | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 37.76 | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 37.4 | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 37.41 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 37.58 | +0.5% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 37.58 is below the median for high income countries, which is 37.66, 100% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 33.06 | 32.8 | 33.34 | 6 |
| 2000s | 33.77 | 32.93 | 34.63 | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.71 | 35.3 | 37.35 | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.79 | 37.4 | 38.34 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More gender data for United States
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 57,835 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.4626 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 297,814 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 297,814 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.6312 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 1.79 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 1.88 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 1.80 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 1.89 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 1.83 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in United States?
- Inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in United States was 37.58 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 38.34 in 2021.
- What is the lowest inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.8 in 1997.
- How does United States rank for inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- United States ranks 36th out of 75 countries with data for 2025.
- Is inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Inactivity rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
This indicator conveys the number of persons of working age outside the labour force (that is, not employed or unemployed) expressed as a percentage of the working-age population. For more information, refer to the International Labour Migration Statistics (ILMS) database description.