Iran vs South Korea: Labor force, total
Labor force, total over time
- Iran
- South Korea
How they compare
South Korea currently reports 29.87 million against 29.52 million in Iran, a difference of 343,900.
The two have swapped places 6 times across 36 shared years of data; in 1990 it was South Korea ahead.
Iran ranks 24th and South Korea ranks 23rd of 187 countries.
South Korea has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Iran | South Korea | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.46 million | 20.85 million | 4.39 million | South Korea |
| 2000s | 23.00 million | 23.80 million | 800,240 | South Korea |
| 2010s | 26.67 million | 27.02 million | 349,990 | South Korea |
| 2020s | 28.52 million | 29.24 million | 712,417 | South Korea |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher labor force, total, Iran or South Korea?
- South Korea, at 29.87 million against 29.52 million in Iran as of 2025.
- What is the difference in labor force, total between Iran and South Korea?
- 343,900, with South Korea ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Iran and South Korea?
- 36 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2025.
- How do Iran and South Korea rank globally for labor force, total?
- Iran ranks 24th and South Korea ranks 23rd of 187 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as Labor force, total. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
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.