Labor force, total in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Labor force, total was 74.74 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Bangladesh, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force, total in Bangladesh is 74.74 million, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 20.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Bangladesh peaked at 74.79 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 36.31 million, in 1990.
Bangladesh ranks 8th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 36.31 million | — |
| 1991 | 37.39 million | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 38.52 million | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 39.68 million | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 40.90 million | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 42.19 million | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 43.53 million | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 44.90 million | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 46.29 million | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 47.68 million | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 49.05 million | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 50.23 million | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 51.24 million | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 52.21 million | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 53.14 million | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 54.05 million | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 54.91 million | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 55.89 million | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 56.85 million | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 57.81 million | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 58.80 million | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 59.28 million | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 59.87 million | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 60.48 million | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 61.20 million | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 61.92 million | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 62.63 million | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 66.15 million | +5.6% |
| 2018 | 67.68 million | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 69.17 million | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 70.31 million | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 72.64 million | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 74.65 million | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 74.79 million | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 73.62 million | -1.6% |
| 2025 | 74.74 million | +1.5% |
Bangladesh compared with similar countries
- Bangladesh's 74.74 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.00 million, 15.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Bangladesh's 74.74 million is above the median for South Asia, which is 8.31 million, 9.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 41.74 million | 36.31 million | 47.68 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 53.54 million | 49.05 million | 57.81 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 62.72 million | 58.80 million | 69.17 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 73.46 million | 70.31 million | 74.79 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More education data for Bangladesh
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 571,690 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 387,056 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.73 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.77 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 16.69 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.67 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0961 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Bangladesh?
- Labor force, total in Bangladesh was 74.74 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 74.79 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.31 million in 1990.
- How does Bangladesh rank for labor force, total?
- Bangladesh ranks 8th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bangladesh 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.