United States vs World: Labor force, total
Labor force, total over time
- United States
- World
How they compare
World currently reports 3.74 billion against 174.83 million in United States, a difference of 3.56 billion.
That makes World's figure about 21.4 times United States's.
Across all 36 years both countries report, World has been ahead every year.
United States ranks 3rd and World ranks 1st of 187 countries.
World has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | United States | World | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 135.92 million | 2.51 billion | 2.37 billion | World |
| 2000s | 152.74 million | 2.97 billion | 2.81 billion | World |
| 2010s | 162.49 million | 3.35 billion | 3.18 billion | World |
| 2020s | 170.75 million | 3.62 billion | 3.45 billion | World |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher labor force, total, United States or World?
- World, at 3.74 billion against 174.83 million in United States as of 2025.
- What is the difference in labor force, total between United States and World?
- 3.56 billion, with World ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for United States and World?
- 36 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2025.
- How do United States and World rank globally for labor force, total?
- United States ranks 3rd and World ranks 1st 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.