Inactivity rate in Ireland
Ireland: Inactivity rate was 37.04 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Inactivity rate in Ireland, 2004–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, inactivity rate in Ireland stood at 37.04.
The figure is up 2.7% on the previous year and down 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, inactivity rate in Ireland peaked at 43.61 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 36.05, in 2024.
Ireland ranks 35th of 57 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Inactivity rate in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 43.12 | — |
| 2005 | 42.28 | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 42.13 | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 41.24 | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 40.94 | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 42.94 | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 43.61 | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 42.37 | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 41.78 | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 42.2 | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 41.45 | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 41.73 | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 41.38 | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 39.91 | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 38.43 | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 37.63 | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 39.69 | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 39.05 | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 38.4 | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 36.77 | -4.2% |
| 2024 | 36.05 | -2.0% |
| 2025 | 37.04 | +2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 42.11 | 40.94 | 43.12 | 6 |
| 2010s | 41.05 | 37.63 | 43.61 | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.83 | 36.05 | 39.69 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 32 Chile 38.1 compare
- 33 United States of America 37.58 compare
- 34 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 37.16 compare
- 36 Lithuania 36.93 compare
- 37 Switzerland 36.81 compare
- 38 Zambia 36.76 compare
More gender data for Ireland
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 899.27 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.9809 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 26,039 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 27,455 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 26,494 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 27,919 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 26,943 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 28,390 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 28,907 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 30,454 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is inactivity rate in Ireland?
- Inactivity rate in Ireland was 37.04 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest inactivity rate recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 43.61 in 2010.
- What is the lowest inactivity rate recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.05 in 2024.
- How does Ireland rank for inactivity rate?
- Ireland ranks 35th out of 57 countries with data for 2025.
- Is inactivity rate rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Inactivity rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. 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. The term disability, as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), is used as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. For measurement purposes, a person with disability is defined as a person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem. For more information, refer to the Disability Labour Market Indicators (DLMI) database description.