Labor Productivity Output 2019

Labor productivity output measures economic efficiency by calculating GDP per hour worked in each country.

129 data points••Global Coverage•Productivity: output per hour worked | Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table via Our World in Data•

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Complete Data Rankings

Rank
Actions
1
Ireland flag
Ireland
141.344 USD
2
Norway flag
Norway
119.481 USD
3
Switzerland flag
Switzerland
93.043 USD
4
Luxembourg flag
Luxembourg
89.146 USD
5
Denmark flag
Denmark
85.801 USD
6
Austria flag
Austria
81.326 USD
7
Germany flag
Germany
81.119 USD
8
France flag
France
80.234 USD
9
Sweden flag
Sweden
80.127 USD
10
Netherlands flag
Netherlands
80.069 USD
11
Belgium flag
Belgium
79.803 USD
12
Saudi Arabia flag
Saudi Arabia
78.564 USD
13
United States flag
United States
77.742 USD
14
Australia flag
Australia
71.466 USD
15
Finland flag
Finland
69.871 USD
16
Iceland flag
Iceland
69.404 USD
17
Qatar flag
Qatar
68.416 USD
18
United Kingdom flag
United Kingdom
66.177 USD
19
Italy flag
Italy
65.862 USD
20
Spain flag
Spain
62.681 USD
21
Singapore flag
Singapore
62.332 USD
22
Canada flag
Canada
60.961 USD
23
Bahrain flag
Bahrain
55.197 USD
24
Taiwan flag
Taiwan
53.522 USD
25
China, Hong Kong SAR flag
China, Hong Kong SAR
50.836 USD
26
Czech Republic flag
Czech Republic
49.792 USD
27
Slovenia flag
Slovenia
49.558 USD
28
South Korea flag
South Korea
49.545 USD
29
New Zealand flag
New Zealand
49.537 USD
30
Turkey flag
Turkey
49.212 USD
31
Japan flag
Japan
48.808 USD
32
Cyprus flag
Cyprus
48.436 USD
33
Estonia flag
Estonia
47.559 USD
34
United Arab Emirates flag
United Arab Emirates
47.477 USD
35
Kuwait flag
Kuwait
45.81 USD
36
Poland flag
Poland
45.805 USD
37
Lithuania flag
Lithuania
45.119 USD
38
Trinidad and Tobago flag
Trinidad and Tobago
44.988 USD
39
Malta flag
Malta
42.672 USD
40
Israel flag
Israel
42.249 USD
41
Portugal flag
Portugal
41.923 USD
42
Hungary flag
Hungary
40.447 USD
43
Latvia flag
Latvia
40.054 USD
44
Romania flag
Romania
39.572 USD
45
Croatia flag
Croatia
38.796 USD
46
Uruguay flag
Uruguay
38.193 USD
47
Georgia flag
Georgia
38.052 USD
48
Slovakia flag
Slovakia
36.973 USD
49
Iraq flag
Iraq
36.416 USD
50
Bosnia and Herzegovina flag
Bosnia and Herzegovina
35.828 USD
51
Greece flag
Greece
35.219 USD
52
Kazakhstan flag
Kazakhstan
34.449 USD
53
Russia flag
Russia
33.838 USD
54
Argentina flag
Argentina
33.712 USD
55
Lebanon flag
Lebanon
32.322 USD
56
Chile flag
Chile
31.906 USD
57
Belarus flag
Belarus
30.701 USD
58
Bulgaria flag
Bulgaria
30.632 USD
59
Gabon flag
Gabon
29.801 USD
60
Mexico flag
Mexico
28.919 USD
61
Mauritius flag
Mauritius
28.885 USD
62
Oman flag
Oman
27.405 USD
63
Malaysia flag
Malaysia
27.192 USD
64
Costa Rica flag
Costa Rica
25.82 USD
65
Egypt flag
Egypt
25.791 USD
66
Armenia flag
Armenia
24.245 USD
67
Serbia flag
Serbia
23.732 USD
68
Algeria flag
Algeria
23.578 USD
69
North Macedonia flag
North Macedonia
22.61 USD
70
Republic of Moldova flag
Republic of Moldova
21.638 USD
71
Iran flag
Iran
21.216 USD
72
Azerbaijan flag
Azerbaijan
21.092 USD
73
Dominican Republic flag
Dominican Republic
20.977 USD
74
South Africa flag
South Africa
20.568 USD
75
Brazil flag
Brazil
19.152 USD
76
Sri Lanka flag
Sri Lanka
19.116 USD
77
Jordan flag
Jordan
18.617 USD
78
Ukraine flag
Ukraine
18.406 USD
79
Turkmenistan flag
Turkmenistan
18.085 USD
80
Tunisia flag
Tunisia
18.073 USD
81
Ecuador flag
Ecuador
18.041 USD
82
Thailand flag
Thailand
17.634 USD
83
Paraguay flag
Paraguay
17.024 USD
84
Botswana flag
Botswana
16.99 USD
85
Albania flag
Albania
16.412 USD
86
Colombia flag
Colombia
15.813 USD
87
Namibia flag
Namibia
15.669 USD
88
China flag
China
14.175 USD
89
Indonesia flag
Indonesia
13.153 USD
90
Morocco flag
Morocco
12.578 USD
91
Syrian Arab Republic flag
Syrian Arab Republic
12.477 USD
92
Peru flag
Peru
12.457 USD
93
Guatemala flag
Guatemala
11.98 USD
94
Philippines flag
Philippines
11.624 USD
95
Jamaica flag
Jamaica
11.116 USD
96
Uzbekistan flag
Uzbekistan
9.942 USD
97
Vietnam flag
Vietnam
9.734 USD
98
Bolivia flag
Bolivia
9.551 USD
99
Sudan flag
Sudan
9.076 USD
100
Kyrgyzstan flag
Kyrgyzstan
8.824 USD
101
Ghana flag
Ghana
8.806 USD
102
Pakistan flag
Pakistan
8.803 USD
103
Nigeria flag
Nigeria
8.12 USD
104
Angola flag
Angola
7.966 USD
105
Tajikistan flag
Tajikistan
7.821 USD
106
Congo flag
Congo
7.593 USD
107
Côte d'Ivoire flag
Côte d'Ivoire
7.54 USD
108
India flag
India
7.463 USD
109
Kenya flag
Kenya
7.11 USD
110
Myanmar flag
Myanmar
6.592 USD
111
Bangladesh flag
Bangladesh
6.475 USD
112
Cameroon flag
Cameroon
6.166 USD
113
Zambia flag
Zambia
5.591 USD
114
Cambodia flag
Cambodia
5.002 USD
115
Uganda flag
Uganda
4.885 USD
116
Chad flag
Chad
4.731 USD
117
Zimbabwe flag
Zimbabwe
4.494 USD
118
Mali flag
Mali
3.963 USD
119
Senegal flag
Senegal
3.935 USD
120
Yemen flag
Yemen
3.892 USD
121
Rwanda flag
Rwanda
3.86 USD
122
Tanzania flag
Tanzania
3.747 USD
123
Ethiopia flag
Ethiopia
3.407 USD
124
Malawi flag
Malawi
3.297 USD
125
Mozambique flag
Mozambique
2.859 USD
126
Burkina Faso flag
Burkina Faso
2.787 USD
127
Niger flag
Niger
1.851 USD
128
Madagascar flag
Madagascar
1.839 USD
129
Congo, Democratic Republic of the flag
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
1.806 USD

↑Top 10 Countries

  1. #1Ireland flagIreland
  2. #2Norway flagNorway
  3. #3Switzerland flagSwitzerland
  4. #4Luxembourg flagLuxembourg
  5. #5Denmark flagDenmark
  6. #6Austria flagAustria
  7. #7Germany flagGermany
  8. #8France flagFrance
  9. #9Sweden flagSweden
  10. #10Netherlands flagNetherlands

Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.

↓Bottom 10 Countries

  1. #129Congo, Democratic Republic of the flagCongo, Democratic Republic of the
  2. #128Madagascar flagMadagascar
  3. #127Niger flagNiger
  4. #126Burkina Faso flagBurkina Faso
  5. #125Mozambique flagMozambique
  6. #124Malawi flagMalawi
  7. #123Ethiopia flagEthiopia
  8. #122Tanzania flagTanzania
  9. #121Rwanda flagRwanda
  10. #120Yemen flagYemen

Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.

Insights by country

1

Turkmenistan

In 2019, Turkmenistan achieved a global rank of #79 with a Labor Productivity Output valued at 18.085407 USD. This figure is lower than the global average, indicating room for improvement in efficiency compared to leading economies. Key drivers of this productivity level include the country's heavy reliance on natural gas exports and a relatively small workforce, which can limit overall economic diversification and innovation.

2

Niger

Niger ranked #127 globally in Labor Productivity Output in 2019, with a value of 1.8506708 USD. This positions Niger near the bottom of the global scale, with only one other country performing worse. Contributing factors include a heavy reliance on subsistence agriculture, limited industrialization, and challenges related to education and infrastructure, which hinder economic productivity.

3

Tajikistan

In 2019, Tajikistan ranked #105 globally for Labor Productivity Output, with a value of 7.820909 USD. This places Tajikistan below many of its regional peers, reflecting challenges in economic diversification and industrial development. Key drivers of this low productivity include a heavy reliance on agriculture and remittances, which can limit investment in higher-value sectors.

4

Netherlands

In 2019, the Netherlands achieved a global rank of #10 with a Labor Productivity Output of 80.06904 USD. This figure places it above the European Union average, showcasing its competitive economy. Key drivers of this high productivity include a highly skilled workforce, advanced technological adoption, and strong infrastructure investments that facilitate efficient business operations.

5

Austria

In 2019, Austria achieved a global rank of #6 with a Labor Productivity Output of 81.325676 USD. This figure is significantly higher than the global average, reflecting Austria's strong economic performance compared to many countries. Key drivers of this high productivity include a well-educated workforce, advanced technology adoption, and a robust industrial sector, particularly in manufacturing and services.

6

Mali

Mali's Labor Productivity Output in 2019 was 3.9627812 USD, ranking it #118 out of 129 countries. This figure is significantly lower than the global average, indicating challenges in economic efficiency compared to more developed nations.

The low productivity can be attributed to factors such as limited access to modern technology, a predominantly agricultural economy, and ongoing political instability, which hinder investment and infrastructure development.

7

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates achieved a global rank of #34 with a Labor Productivity Output of 47.47686 USD in 2019. This figure is notably higher than the regional average for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, reflecting the UAE's strong economic diversification efforts. Key drivers of this productivity include significant investments in technology and infrastructure, as well as a highly skilled expatriate workforce that supports various sectors, particularly in finance and tourism.

8

Zambia

Zambia ranked #113 globally in Labor Productivity Output with a value of 5.590863 USD in 2019. This figure is notably lower than many of its regional neighbors, reflecting the challenges faced by the Zambian economy. Key drivers behind this low productivity include a reliance on copper exports, limited industrial diversification, and infrastructural constraints that hinder efficient production processes.

9

Singapore

In 2019, Singapore achieved a Labor Productivity Output of 62.331562 USD, ranking #21 out of 129 countries. This figure positions Singapore above the global average, reflecting its robust economy and competitive workforce. Key drivers of this productivity include a strong emphasis on technology adoption, a highly skilled labor force, and efficient regulatory frameworks that foster innovation and business growth.

10

Trinidad and Tobago

In 2019, Trinidad and Tobago achieved a global rank of #38 with a Labor Productivity Output of 44.9884 USD. This productivity level is notably higher than the Caribbean regional average, reflecting the nation's relatively advanced industrial sector. Key drivers of this statistic include Trinidad and Tobago's rich natural resources, particularly in oil and gas, which significantly contribute to economic output and employment.

Analysis & Context

In 2019, Ireland led the world in Labor Productivity Output with a value of USD 141.34 per hour worked, while the global range spanned from USD 1.81 to USD 141.34. The global average for Labor Productivity Output in 2019 was USD 32.57, providing a benchmark for economic efficiency across different nations.

Economic Efficiency and High Labor Productivity

The top performers in Labor Productivity Output, including Ireland with USD 141.34, Norway with USD 119.48, and Switzerland with USD 93.04, highlight regions where economic efficiency is particularly pronounced. These countries often benefit from advanced technological infrastructure, a highly skilled workforce, and robust economic policies that promote productivity. For instance, Ireland's economic structure, characterized by a strong presence of multinational corporations and a favorable tax regime, contributes significantly to its high productivity levels.

In contrast, countries with lower productivity outputs, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo at USD 1.81 and Madagascar at USD 1.84, typically face challenges such as limited access to technology, lower educational attainment, and infrastructural deficits. These factors hinder their ability to enhance productivity and compete on a global scale.

Regional Disparities and Economic Structures

Regional disparities in Labor Productivity Output are evident when comparing European countries to those in Africa. Luxembourg at USD 89.15 and Denmark at USD 85.80 exemplify how European nations often have the economic infrastructure and policy frameworks that support high productivity. These countries benefit from stable political environments, high levels of investment in technology and education, and efficient labor markets.

Conversely, countries like Niger with a Labor Productivity Output of USD 1.85 and Burkina Faso at USD 2.79 illustrate the struggles faced by economies that are heavily reliant on agriculture and lack diversification. Such economies often have a significant portion of their labor force engaged in subsistence farming, which does not contribute significantly to GDP per hour worked.

Year-Over-Year Trends and Economic Policies

Analyzing year-over-year trends, Ireland experienced the most substantial increase in Labor Productivity Output with a rise of USD 14.76 (11.7%), largely driven by its dynamic tech sector and strategic investments in innovation. Iceland and Bahrain also saw notable increases, with USD 8.46 (13.9%) and USD 6.38 (13.1%) respectively, indicating successful economic policies aimed at enhancing productivity.

Conversely, Saudi Arabia experienced a decrease of USD 2.31 (-2.9%), potentially reflecting challenges in diversifying its oil-dependent economy. Similarly, Argentina and Mexico saw declines, with USD 1.90 (-5.3%) and USD 1.30 (-4.3%) respectively, possibly due to economic instability and policy inefficiencies that affected productivity growth.

Underlying Factors Influencing Productivity

Several underlying factors influence the variations in Labor Productivity Output across different countries. In high-performing economies like Germany (USD 81.12) and France (USD 80.23), there is often a strong emphasis on research and development, which drives innovation and efficiency. These countries also benefit from effective labor market policies that ensure a high level of employment and productivity.

In contrast, countries with lower outputs often face systemic issues such as political instability, inadequate educational systems, and poor infrastructure. For example, Yemen with a Labor Productivity Output of USD 3.89 is significantly impacted by ongoing conflict, which stifles economic activity and productivity improvements.

Overall, the 2019 Labor Productivity Output data underscores the importance of strategic economic policies, technological advancements, and stable governance in enhancing productivity levels across nations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Labor Productivity Output in 2019

Which country had the highest labor productivity output in 2019?

The country with the highest labor productivity output in 2019 was Ireland, with a GDP per hour worked of 141 USD.

What was the average labor productivity output across countries in 2019?

The average labor productivity output across countries in 2019 was 32.57 USD.

Which country had the lowest labor productivity output in 2019?

The country with the lowest labor productivity output in 2019 was the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with 1.81 USD per hour worked.

What was the median labor productivity output for countries in 2019?

The median labor productivity output for countries in 2019 was 25.79 USD.

What is the range of labor productivity output values in 2019?

In 2019, the range of labor productivity output values spanned from 1.81 USD in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to 141 USD in Ireland.

Which countries were in the top 3 for labor productivity output in 2019?

The top 3 countries for labor productivity output in 2019 were Ireland with 141 USD, Norway with 119 USD, and Switzerland with 93.04 USD.

Data Source

Productivity: output per hour worked | Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table via Our World in Data

Data produced by Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table, compiled and published by Our World in Data as "Productivity: output per hour worked".

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Cite this page

Geo Factbook. (n.d.). Labor Productivity Output by Country, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2026, from https://geofactbook.com/fact/labor-productivity-output/2019

The figures on this page come from Productivity: output per hour worked | Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table via Our World in Data. For academic work, cite the original source as well.

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Historical Data by Year

Explore Labor Productivity Output data across different years. Compare trends and see how statistics have changed over time.