Makrognosis

United Kingdom LFS: Economic Inactivity: : People: Aged 15 and over: Thousands: NSA ()

QuarterlyNot seasonally adjustedCode UK.INACTIVE.Q.NSA.ITEM-J5N3.MEASURE-LEVEL

Latest20,587 thousandsQ2 2026
Previous20,453 thousandsQ1 2026
Year ago20,391 thousandsQ2 2025

United Kingdom LFS: Economic Inactivity: : People: Aged 15 and over: Thousands: NSA () was 20,587 thousands in Q2 2026, up 0.7% from Q1 2026 and up 1.0% from a year earlier.

That is the highest reading since Q2 2024.

Over the past ten years it has ranged from 18,932 thousands (Q3 2016) to 20,762 thousands (Q2 2024), averaging 19,786 thousands.

United Kingdom LFS: Economic Inactivity: : People: Aged 15 and over: Thousands: NSA () (thousands), Q1 2001 – Q2 202617k18k19k20k21k20052010201520202025Robomacro
United Kingdom LFS: Economic Inactivity: : People: Aged 15 and over: Thousands: NSA () (thousands), Q1 2001 – Q2 2026. Source: UK Office for National Statistics.

Showing the full history (downsampled for display). Open the interactive chart to zoom and switch transforms.

Recent data

PeriodValue
Q2 202620,587 thousands
Q1 202620,453 thousands
Q4 202520,353 thousands
Q3 202520,289 thousands
Q2 202520,391 thousands
Q1 202520,478 thousands
Q4 202420,486 thousands
Q3 202420,406 thousands
Q2 202420,762 thousands
Q1 202420,621 thousands
Q4 202320,550 thousands
Q3 202320,266 thousands
Q2 202320,245 thousands
Q1 202320,098 thousands
Q4 202220,145 thousands
Q3 202220,190 thousands
Q2 202220,130 thousands
Q1 202220,126 thousands
Q4 202119,886 thousands
Q3 202119,645 thousands
Q2 202119,914 thousands
Q1 202119,795 thousands
Q4 202019,601 thousands
Q3 202019,486 thousands

Last 24 observations. The full history (102 observations) is available through the API.

Get United Kingdom LFS: Economic Inactivity: : People: Aged 15 and over: Thousands: NSA () in your code or spreadsheet

One guessable code, agency-direct, updated on release. Free tier available.

curl -H "X-API-Key: $MAKROGNOSIS_KEY" \
  "https://makrognosis.robomacro.com/v1/series/UK.INACTIVE.Q.NSA.ITEM-J5N3.MEASURE-LEVEL"

# Python
import requests
r = requests.get("https://makrognosis.robomacro.com/v1/series/UK.INACTIVE.Q.NSA.ITEM-J5N3.MEASURE-LEVEL",
                 headers={"X-API-Key": KEY})
obs = r.json()["observations"]
Get a free API key → · API docs

About this series

Latest observationQ2 2026
First observationQ1 2001
Observations102
FrequencyQuarterly
Unitsthousands
AdjustmentNot seasonally adjusted
10-year high20,762 thousands (Q2 2024)
10-year low18,932 thousands (Q3 2016)
10-year average19,786 thousands
Source agencyUK Office for National Statistics
Makrognosis codeUK.INACTIVE.Q.NSA.ITEM-J5N3.MEASURE-LEVEL

More United Kingdom INACTIVE series

United Kingdom Discouraged workers level people: 000s ()United Kingdom Discouraged workers level women: 000s ()United Kingdom East - 16-64 inactive levels: 000s: SA: People ()United Kingdom East - Working age inactive levels: 000s: SA: Men ()United Kingdom East Midlands - 16-64 inactive levels SA: Women ()United Kingdom East Midlands - 16-64 inactive levels: 000s: SA: People ()United Kingdom East Midlands - Working age inactive levels: 000s: SA: Men ()United Kingdom Economic inactive: Does not want a job: Retired: 16-64: 16-64: Thousands: SA ()United Kingdom Economic inactive: Does not want a job: Retired: 16-64: Men: Thousands: SA ()United Kingdom Economic inactive: Does not want a job: Retired: 16-64: Women: Thousands: SA ()United Kingdom Economic inactive: Wants job: Discouraged workers: 16-64: 16-64: Thousands: SA ()United Kingdom Economic inactive: Wants job: Discouraged workers: 16-64: Men: Thousands: SA ()United Kingdom Economic inactive: Wants job: Discouraged workers: 16-64: Women: Thousands: SA ()United Kingdom Economic inactivity rate: : All: Aged 16-64: SAUnited Kingdom Economically inactive Rate:Total (16-64):ALL:% (ended 2019) ()United Kingdom Economically inactive level 65 + People: 000s ()United Kingdom Economically inactive level 65 + Women: 000s ()United Kingdom Economically inactive rate 65 + People: % ()United Kingdom Economically inactive rate 65 + Women: % ()United Kingdom Economically inactive: : All: Aged 16-64: Thousands: SA

Other United Kingdom indicators

United Kingdom GDP (Gross Domestic Product)United Kingdom Nominal GDP (current prices)United Kingdom Inflation Rate (CPI)United Kingdom Core Inflation RateUnited Kingdom Unemployment RateUnited Kingdom Credit Rating & Sovereign Risk ScoreUnited Kingdom Industrial ProductionUnited Kingdom Production Industries - Total (Index 1dp): CVM SAUnited Kingdom Retail SalesUnited Kingdom Producer Price Inflation (PPI)United Kingdom BoP Current Account Balance SAUnited Kingdom Trade Balance: Goods & ServicesUnited Kingdom Total Trade (TT): WW: Exports: BOP: CP: SA (goods + services)United Kingdom Total Trade: World: Exports: BOP: CVM SAUnited Kingdom Total Trade (TT): WW: Imports: BOP: CP: SA (goods + services)United Kingdom Total Trade: World: Imports: BOP: CVM SA

FAQ

What is the current lFS: Economic Inactivity: : People: Aged 15 and over: Thousands: NSA () in United Kingdom?
The latest reading is 20,587 thousands for Q2 2026, published by UK Office for National Statistics.
Where does this data come from?
It is collected directly from UK Office for National Statistics and is available through the Makrognosis API under the code UK.INACTIVE.Q.NSA.ITEM-J5N3.MEASURE-LEVEL.

Last updated 2026-08-18. Source: UK Office for National Statistics. Original title: “LFS: Economic Inactivity: UK: People: Aged 15 and over: Thousands: NSA (UK)”.