Labor force - Country rankings

* indicates monthly or quarterly data series

Labor force, million people, 2022:

The average for 2022 based on 176 countries was 19.35 million people. The highest value was in China: 781.83 million people and the lowest value was in Tonga: 0.04 million people. The indicator is available from 1990 to 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Measure: million people; Source: The World Bank
Select indicator
* indicates monthly or quarterly data series


Countries Labor force, 2022 Global rank Available data
China 781.83 1 1990 - 2022
India 523.84 2 1990 - 2022
USA 169.23 3 1990 - 2022
Indonesia 137.26 4 1990 - 2022
Brazil 108.38 5 1990 - 2022
Pakistan 78.91 6 1990 - 2022
Bangladesh 74.46 7 1990 - 2022
Nigeria 73.27 8 1990 - 2022
Japan 68.93 9 1990 - 2022
Ethiopia 60.03 10 1990 - 2022
Mexico 58.7 11 1990 - 2022
Vietnam 55.95 12 1990 - 2022
Philippines 46.99 13 1990 - 2022
Germany 44.52 14 1990 - 2022
Thailand 40.24 15 1990 - 2022
DR Congo 35.06 16 1990 - 2022
UK 34.46 17 1990 - 2022
Turkey 34.43 18 1990 - 2022
France 31.65 19 1990 - 2022
Egypt 31.17 20 1990 - 2022
Tanzania 30.64 21 1990 - 2022
South Korea 29.2 22 1990 - 2022
Iran 28.82 23 1990 - 2022
Colombia 25.83 24 1990 - 2022
Italy 25.48 25 1990 - 2022
Kenya 24.99 26 1990 - 2022
South Africa 24.31 27 1990 - 2022
Spain 23.72 28 1990 - 2022
Argentina 21.42 29 1990 - 2022
Canada 21.34 30 1990 - 2022
Poland 18.59 31 1990 - 2022
Uganda 18.2 32 1990 - 2022
Peru 18.16 33 1990 - 2022
Malaysia 17.31 34 1990 - 2022
Saudi Arabia 15.91 35 1990 - 2022
North Korea 15.83 36 1990 - 2022
Madagascar 15.5 37 1990 - 2022
Angola 15.04 38 1990 - 2022
Mozambique 14.61 39 1990 - 2022
Ghana 14.53 40 1990 - 2022
Australia 14.11 41 1990 - 2022
Uzbekistan 14.04 42 1990 - 2022
Sudan 13.5 43 1990 - 2022
Algeria 12.64 44 1990 - 2022
Morocco 12.53 45 1990 - 2022
Cameroon 11.58 46 1990 - 2022
Iraq 11.18 47 1990 - 2022
Venezuela 10.81 48 1990 - 2022
Ivory Coast 10.79 49 1990 - 2022
Netherlands 9.9 50 1990 - 2022
Niger 9.85 51 1990 - 2022
Kazakhstan 9.63 52 1990 - 2022
Chile 9.45 53 1990 - 2022
Cambodia 9.02 54 1990 - 2022
Ecuador 8.88 55 1990 - 2022
Sri Lanka 8.71 56 1990 - 2022
Nepal 8.7 57 1990 - 2022
Burkina Faso 8.36 58 1990 - 2022
Romania 8.3 59 1990 - 2022
Mali 8.05 60 1990 - 2022
Malawi 7.92 61 1990 - 2022
Yemen 7.82 62 1990 - 2022
Zambia 6.94 63 1990 - 2022
Guatemala 6.88 64 1990 - 2022
Syria 6.72 65 1990 - 2022
UA Emirates 6.58 66 1990 - 2022
Zimbabwe 6.4 67 1990 - 2022
Bolivia 5.86 68 1990 - 2022
Sweden 5.6 69 1990 - 2022
Burundi 5.57 70 1990 - 2022
Chad 5.54 71 1990 - 2022
Belgium 5.35 72 1990 - 2022
Czechia 5.32 73 1990 - 2022
Portugal 5.29 74 1990 - 2022
Domin. Rep. 5.28 75 1990 - 2022
Senegal 5.2 76 1990 - 2022
Azerbaijan 5.16 77 1990 - 2022
Haiti 5.16 78 1990 - 2022
Switzerland 5.02 79 1990 - 2022
Hungary 4.95 80 1990 - 2022
Belarus 4.83 81 1990 - 2022
Benin 4.81 82 1990 - 2022
Austria 4.77 83 1990 - 2022
Greece 4.7 84 1990 - 2022
Rwanda 4.65 85 1990 - 2022
Honduras 4.61 86 1990 - 2022
Israel 4.37 87 1990 - 2022
Tunisia 4.25 88 1990 - 2022
Guinea 4.24 89 1990 - 2022
Hong Kong 3.81 90 1990 - 2022
Singapore 3.49 91 1990 - 2022
Paraguay 3.43 92 1990 - 2022
Serbia 3.27 93 1990 - 2022
Nicaragua 3.23 94 1990 - 2022
Somalia 3.16 95 1990 - 2022
Papua N.G. 3.14 96 1990 - 2022
Bulgaria 3.13 97 1990 - 2022
Denmark 3.13 98 1990 - 2022
Togo 3.08 99 1990 - 2022
Laos 3.07 100 1990 - 2022
Jordan 3.04 101 1990 - 2022
Norway 2.98 102 1990 - 2022
New Zealand 2.96 103 1990 - 2022
Slovakia 2.83 104 1990 - 2022
Finland 2.82 105 1990 - 2022
Sierra Leone 2.8 106 1990 - 2022
El Salvador 2.78 107 1990 - 2022
Ireland 2.68 108 1990 - 2022
Kyrgyzstan 2.65 109 1990 - 2022
Tajikistan 2.61 110 1990 - 2022
Costa Rica 2.54 111 1990 - 2022
Kuwait 2.42 112 1990 - 2022
Liberia 2.42 113 1990 - 2022
R. of Congo 2.38 114 1990 - 2022
Libya 2.32 115 1990 - 2022
Oman 2.24 116 1990 - 2022
Panama 2.15 117 1990 - 2022
Turkmenistan 2.05 118 1990 - 2022
C.A. Republic 2.04 119 1990 - 2022
Qatar 2 120 1990 - 2022
Lebanon 1.87 121 1990 - 2022
Georgia 1.86 122 1990 - 2022
Uruguay 1.76 123 1990 - 2022
Eritrea 1.74 124 1990 - 2022
Croatia 1.73 125 1990 - 2022
Jamaica 1.57 126 1990 - 2022
Lithuania 1.51 127 1990 - 2022
Armenia 1.39 128 1990 - 2022
Albania 1.38 129 1990 - 2022
Bosnia & Herz. 1.37 130 1990 - 2022
Palestine 1.37 131 1990 - 2022
Mongolia 1.36 132 1990 - 2022
Botswana 1.15 133 1990 - 2022
Puerto Rico 1.14 134 1990 - 2022
Mauritania 1.13 135 1990 - 2022
Slovenia 1.06 136 1990 - 2022
Lesotho 0.98 137 1990 - 2022
Latvia 0.97 138 1990 - 2022
Namibia 0.96 139 1990 - 2022
Gambia 0.95 140 1990 - 2022
North Macedonia 0.94 141 1990 - 2022
Moldova 0.87 142 1990 - 2022
Bahrain 0.84 143 1990 - 2022
Estonia 0.73 144 1990 - 2022
Gabon 0.73 145 1990 - 2022
G.-Bissau 0.71 146 1990 - 2022
Cyprus 0.68 147 1990 - 2022
Tr.&Tobago 0.68 148 1990 - 2022
Mauritius 0.62 149 1990 - 2022
Eq. Guinea 0.57 150 1990 - 2022
Macao 0.41 151 1990 - 2022
Swaziland 0.4 152 1990 - 2022
Bhutan 0.38 153 1990 - 2022
Fiji 0.38 154 1990 - 2022
Solomon Isl. 0.37 155 1990 - 2022
Luxembourg 0.34 156 1990 - 2022
Guyana 0.29 157 1990 - 2022
Malta 0.29 158 1990 - 2022
Montenegro 0.29 159 1990 - 2022
Maldives 0.26 160 1990 - 2022
Cape Verde 0.25 161 1990 - 2022
Suriname 0.25 162 1990 - 2022
Bahamas 0.24 163 1990 - 2022
Djibouti 0.24 164 1990 - 2022
Comoros 0.23 165 1990 - 2022
Iceland 0.23 166 1990 - 2022
Brunei 0.22 167 1990 - 2022
Belize 0.19 168 1990 - 2022
Barbados 0.14 169 1990 - 2022
Vanuatu 0.14 170 1990 - 2022
N. Caledonia 0.12 171 1990 - 2022
Saint Lucia 0.1 172 1990 - 2022
Samoa 0.07 173 1990 - 2022
S.T.&Principe 0.07 174 1990 - 2022
St. Vincent & ... 0.05 175 1990 - 2022
Tonga 0.04 176 1990 - 2022


Definition: Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.
What makes up the labor force?

The labor force constitutes the proportion of a country’s pool of male and female workers aged 15 years and above who are employed and those currently unemployed but searching for a job. However, it does not include discouraged workers, retirees, and stay-at-home parents. This implies that the totality of the labor force in any country consists of employed and unemployed workers. While employed workers are the set of people who work either through paid or self-employment, the unemployed category consists of those without work, or those currently available for work, and those seeking employment.

Why does the labor force vary across countries?

Differences in the labor force across countries in the world are influenced by several factors. Traditionally, factors such as population size, statutory entry and retirement ages, official school-leaving age, number of working hours and working days, and labor market structure account for the disparity in the labor force of any country. Meanwhile, the existence of seasonal jobs also increases the rate of variation in the labor force from time to time. Countries with high seasonal employment opportunities may tend to have higher labor capacity at one time than other nations.

Furthermore, the economic conditions of countries also determine the number of employed and unemployed workers in the labor force. This is because during a recessionary era, industries tend to lay off workers, which raises the level of unemployment relative to the total population. Meanwhile, periods of an economic boom come with job opportunities that absorb workers.

In addition, geopolitical risks such as wars, conflicts, and terrorism also contribute to variations in the labor force among countries. For instance, countries with high geopolitical uncertainties are likely to have a small labor force since most employed workers may migrate to another nation for their safety, whereas those that are less confronted by geopolitical upheavals may have a large workforce.

If you are interested in global labor regulations and policies, you can visit the International Labour Organization page.


1. China
2. India
3. USA
4. Indonesia
5. Brazil
6. Pakistan
7. Bangladesh
8. Nigeria
9. Japan
10. Ethiopia
11. Mexico
12. Vietnam
13. Philippines
14. Germany
15. Thailand
16. DR Congo
17. UK
18. Turkey
19. France
20. Egypt
21. Tanzania
22. South Korea
23. Iran
24. Colombia
25. Italy
26. Kenya
27. South Africa
28. Spain
29. Argentina
30. Canada
31. Poland
32. Uganda
33. Peru
34. Malaysia
35. Saudi Arabia
36. North Korea
37. Madagascar
38. Angola
39. Mozambique
40. Ghana
41. Australia
42. Uzbekistan
43. Sudan
44. Algeria
45. Morocco
46. Cameroon
47. Iraq
48. Venezuela
49. Ivory Coast
50. Netherlands
51. Niger
52. Kazakhstan
53. Chile
54. Cambodia
55. Ecuador
56. Sri Lanka
57. Nepal
58. Burkina Faso
59. Romania
60. Mali
61. Malawi
62. Yemen
63. Zambia
64. Guatemala
65. Syria
66. UA Emirates
67. Zimbabwe
68. Bolivia
69. Sweden
70. Burundi
71. Chad
72. Belgium
73. Czechia
74. Portugal
75. Domin. Rep.
76. Senegal
77. Azerbaijan
78. Haiti
79. Switzerland
80. Hungary
81. Belarus
82. Benin
83. Austria
84. Greece
85. Rwanda
86. Honduras
87. Israel
88. Tunisia
89. Guinea
90. Hong Kong
91. Singapore
92. Paraguay
93. Serbia
94. Nicaragua
95. Somalia
96. Papua N.G.
97. Bulgaria
98. Denmark
99. Togo
100. Laos
101. Jordan
102. Norway
103. New Zealand
104. Slovakia
105. Finland
106. Sierra Leone
107. El Salvador
108. Ireland
109. Kyrgyzstan
110. Tajikistan
111. Costa Rica
112. Kuwait
113. Liberia
114. R. of Congo
115. Libya
116. Oman
117. Panama
118. Turkmenistan
119. C.A. Republic
120. Qatar
121. Lebanon
122. Georgia
123. Uruguay
124. Eritrea
125. Croatia
126. Jamaica
127. Lithuania
128. Armenia
129. Albania
130. Bosnia & Herz.
131. Palestine
132. Mongolia
133. Botswana
134. Puerto Rico
135. Mauritania
136. Slovenia
137. Lesotho
138. Latvia
139. Namibia
140. Gambia
141. North Macedonia
142. Moldova
143. Bahrain
144. Estonia
145. Gabon
146. G.-Bissau
147. Cyprus
148. Tr.&Tobago
149. Mauritius
150. Eq. Guinea
151. Macao
152. Swaziland
153. Bhutan
154. Fiji
155. Solomon Isl.
156. Luxembourg
157. Guyana
158. Malta
159. Montenegro
160. Maldives
161. Cape Verde
162. Suriname
163. Bahamas
164. Djibouti
165. Comoros
166. Iceland
167. Brunei
168. Belize
169. Barbados
170. Vanuatu
171. N. Caledonia
172. Saint Lucia
173. Samoa
174. S.T.&Principe
175. St. Vincent & ...
176. Tonga
781.83
523.84
169.23
137.26
108.38
78.91
74.46
73.27
68.93
60.03
58.70
55.95
46.99
44.52
40.24
35.06
34.46
34.43
31.65
31.17
30.64
29.20
28.82
25.83
25.48
24.99
24.31
23.72
21.42
21.34
18.59
18.20
18.16
17.31
15.91
15.83
15.50
15.04
14.61
14.53
14.11
14.04
13.50
12.64
12.53
11.58
11.18
10.81
10.79
9.90
9.85
9.63
9.45
9.02
8.88
8.71
8.70
8.36
8.30
8.05
7.92
7.82
6.94
6.88
6.72
6.58
6.40
5.86
5.60
5.57
5.54
5.35
5.32
5.29
5.28
5.20
5.16
5.16
5.02
4.95
4.83
4.81
4.77
4.70
4.65
4.61
4.37
4.25
4.24
3.81
3.49
3.43
3.27
3.23
3.16
3.14
3.13
3.13
3.08
3.07
3.04
2.98
2.96
2.83
2.82
2.80
2.78
2.68
2.65
2.61
2.54
2.42
2.42
2.38
2.32
2.24
2.15
2.05
2.04
2.00
1.87
1.86
1.76
1.74
1.73
1.57
1.51
1.39
1.38
1.37
1.37
1.36
1.15
1.14
1.13
1.06
0.98
0.97
0.96
0.95
0.94
0.87
0.84
0.73
0.73
0.71
0.68
0.68
0.62
0.57
0.41
0.40
0.38
0.38
0.37
0.34
0.29
0.29
0.29
0.26
0.25
0.25
0.24
0.24
0.23
0.23
0.22
0.19
0.14
0.14
0.12
0.10
0.07
0.07
0.05
0.04
0
195.5
390.9
586.4
781.83
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