Labor unions, or trade unions as they are known in Europe, are organizations formed by workers in order to represent their collective interests, particularly in relation to wages and working conditions. Historically, labor unions emerged during the industrial revolution of the nineteenth century to represent the interests of industrial workers, who flocked to work in factories, mines, and other growing manufacturing enterprises. In most high-income countries, labor unions reached their peak during the post-WWII period, when governments mediated between the interests of labor unions and the owners of capital. With the economic crises of the 1970s, however, the labor movement suffered historic defeats in Europe and North America, with union density declining rapidly in many countries due to a host of pro-market and anti-union policies which have come to be referred to as 'neoliberalism'.
Labor unions today
In the twenty-first century, labor unions have retreated from their key role in national economic decisions in many countries, as globalization has lowered barriers to movement of labor, enabled 'off-shoring' jobs to lower wage countries, and promoted the lowering of labor standards in order to pursue cost competitiveness. In spite of this trend, certain regions still showcase high levels of union density and retain their traditions of unions being involved in determining economic policy. Notably, the Nordic countries make up five of the top six most unionized countries, with Iceland in first place being followed by Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and then Norway.
Other notable trends among the top placed countries are states which have had a historical relationship with communism (often a key driver of the labor movement), such as Cuba, Vietnam, China, and Kazakhstan. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, labor unions and the wider labor movement has become more prominent, as workers have sought to fight for health & safety conditions in the workplace, as well as to combat high inflation related to the pandemic.
Countries with the highest percentage share of their workforce being members of labor unions worldwide as of 2020
Country and year of most recent figure
Percentage of workforce unionized
Iceland (2019)
91.4
Cuba (2008)
81.4
Denmark (2019)
67
Sweden (2019)
65.2
Finland (2019)
58.8
Norway (2019)
50.4
Vietnam (2018)
49.6
Belgium (2019)
49.1
Kazakhstan (2017)
46.9
China (2017)
44.2
Cyprus (2016)
43.3
Malta (2020)
41.9
Tunisia (2019)
38.1
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Country and year of most recent figurePercentage of workforce unionized91.491.481.481.4676765.265.258.858.850.450.449.649.649.149.146.946.944.244.243.343.341.941.938.138.136.836.836.636.6363633.333.332.532.532.232.230.830.830.430.430.230.230.130.13030303029.429.429.129.128.228.227.727.727.727.727.527.5272726.926.926.326.326.226.226.126.125.825.825.425.425.125.124.324.323.923.923.923.923.823.823.823.823.723.723.523.523.423.422.222.221.921.921.921.921.421.421.321.320.920.920.820.820.520.520.520.520.120.119.819.819.819.8191918.918.918.618.618.318.317.917.917.817.817.117.116.816.816.816.816.816.816.716.716.316.315.515.515.415.415.315.314.414.4141413.913.913.713.713.713.713.613.613.413.413.213.213.213.21313131312.712.712.512.512.412.412.412.4121211.911.911.811.811.811.811.411.411.111.110.910.910.610.610.610.610.410.410.310.310.310.310.110.19.99.99.99.99.89.89.79.79.69.69.49.48.98.98.98.98.78.78.78.78.68.68.58.57.57.57.57.57.47.47.47.47.47.47.27.26.96.9665.95.95.65.65.35.3554.94.94.84.84.74.74.74.73.33.33.13.12.62.62.32.3221.81.81.71.7110.20.2Iceland (2019)Cuba (2008)Denmark (2019)Sweden (2019)Finland (2019)Norway (2019)Vietnam (2018)Belgium (2019)Kazakhstan (2017)China (2017)Cyprus (2016)Malta (2020)Tunisia (2019)Albania (2017)Ukraine (2019)Syrian Arab Republic (2007)Serbia (2010)Italy (2019)Taiwan, China (2017)Mongolia (2019)Sudan (2011)Nepal (2018)Uruguay (2013)Botswana (2020)Bosnia and Herzegovina (2012)Canada (2020)South Africa (2019)Luxembourg (2019)Argentina (2014)Mauritius (2018)Russian Federation (2017)Niger (2012)Slovenia (2016)Panama (2019)Austria (2019)Hong Kong, China (2016)Montenegro (2012)Ireland (2020)Israel (2017)Tanzania, United Republic of (2015)Zambia (2019)Eswatini (2016)Egypt (2010)Togo (2019)Sierra Leone (2014)Curaçao (2018)United Kingdom (2019)Singapore (2019)Central African Republic (2008)Bermuda (2018)Romania (2018)Occupied Palestinian Territory (2019)Cape Verde (2015)Croatia (2018)Armenia (2019)Costa Rica (2019)Liberia (2010)Trinidad and Tobago (2013)India (2017)Greece (2016)New Zealand (2020)Moldova, Republic of (2019)Namibia (2018)Georgia (2019)Zimbabwe (2017)Chile (2018)Afghanistan (2019)Ghana (2019)Japan (2019)North Macedonia (2019)Germany (2019)Lao People's Democratic Republic (2010)Netherlands (2019)Portugal (2016)Switzerland (2018)Guyana (2018)Gambia (2018)Bulgaria (2016)Australia (2018)Congo, Democratic Republic of the (2012)Comoros (2014)Mexico (2020)Fiji (2016)Indonesia (2019)Brazil (2019)Poland (2018)Mozambique (2016)Korea, Republic of (2020)Spain (2019)Bolivia (2019)Bangladesh (2018)Somalia (2019)Samoa (2014)Czechia (2018)Slovakia (2019)Morocco (2019)Latvia (2019)Côte d'Ivoire (2017)Mauritania (2012)United States (2020)Uganda (2017)Sri Lanka (2019)Nigeria (2008)Turkey (2019)Burkina Faso (2018)Kenya (2019)Cambodia (2012)Ethiopia (2019)Malawi (2013)France (2018)Malaysia (2018)El Salvador (2018)Hungary (2019)Philippines (2020)Mali (2018)Dominican Republic (2019)Lithuania (2019)Senegal (2019)Belize (2019)Madagascar (2015)Paraguay (2019)Estonia (2019)Rwanda (2019)Burundi (2014)Nicaragua (2010)Cameroon (2014)Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (2010)Lesotho (2019)Pakistan (2016)Colombia (2019)Thailand (2019)Guatemala (2019)Honduras (2017)Peru (2018)Seychelles (2011)Saint Lucia (2008)Haiti (2012)Myanmar (2015)Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of (2012)
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Union density is calculated as the share of the employed workforce who are members of trade unions. Unemployed workers who are also members of unions are not counted in this calculation.
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ILO. (May 5, 2022). Countries with the highest percentage share of their workforce being members of labor unions worldwide as of 2020 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved April 03, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1356735/labor-unions-most-unionized-countries-worldwide/
ILO. "Countries with the highest percentage share of their workforce being members of labor unions worldwide as of 2020." Chart. May 5, 2022. Statista. Accessed April 03, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1356735/labor-unions-most-unionized-countries-worldwide/
ILO. (2022). Countries with the highest percentage share of their workforce being members of labor unions worldwide as of 2020. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: April 03, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1356735/labor-unions-most-unionized-countries-worldwide/
ILO. "Countries with The Highest Percentage Share of Their Workforce Being Members of Labor Unions Worldwide as of 2020." Statista, Statista Inc., 5 May 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1356735/labor-unions-most-unionized-countries-worldwide/
ILO, Countries with the highest percentage share of their workforce being members of labor unions worldwide as of 2020 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1356735/labor-unions-most-unionized-countries-worldwide/ (last visited April 03, 2025)
Countries with the highest percentage share of their workforce being members of labor unions worldwide as of 2020 [Graph], ILO, May 5, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1356735/labor-unions-most-unionized-countries-worldwide/
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