Labor force, total in Arab World
Arab World: Labor force, total was 140.07 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Arab World, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force, total in Arab World is 140.07 million, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 10.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Arab World peaked at 140.93 million in 2022 and was at its lowest, 60.54 million, in 1990.
Arab World ranks 41st of 48 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 70.38 million | 60.54 million | 80.92 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 94.74 million | 82.94 million | 109.36 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 124.15 million | 112.95 million | 132.55 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 136.50 million | 132.00 million | 140.93 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Arab World
- 38 Poland 18.17 million compare
- 39 North Korea 17.70 million compare
- 40 Madagascar 17.09 million compare
- 41 Angola 16.32 million compare
- 42 Mozambique 15.66 million compare
- 43 Australia 15.13 million compare
- 44 Uzbekistan 14.64 million compare
More education data for Arab World
- Population ages 15-64 63.3% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 32.0% (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 91.6% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 2.58 million (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 89.7% (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, male 93.4% (2024)
- Labor force, female 19.6% (2025)
- School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index 0.9502 GPI (2020)
- School enrollment, secondary 68.9% (2024)
- Probability of dying among children ages 5-9 years 3.84 per 1,000 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Arab World?
- Labor force, total in Arab World was 140.07 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Arab World?
- The highest recorded value was 140.93 million in 2022.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Arab World?
- The lowest recorded value was 60.54 million in 1990.
- How does Arab World rank for labor force, total?
- Arab World ranks 41st out of 48 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Arab World?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Arab World data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.