Labor force, total in Belize
Belize: Labor force, total was 184,286 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Belize, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
Belize recorded 184,286 for labor force, total in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.9% on the previous year and up 18.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Belize peaked at 189,886 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 56,410, in 1990.
That places Belize 175th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Belize, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 56,410 | — |
| 1991 | 58,218 | +3.2% |
| 1992 | 60,104 | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 61,794 | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 63,461 | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 66,725 | +5.1% |
| 1996 | 70,561 | +5.7% |
| 1997 | 74,916 | +6.2% |
| 1998 | 78,094 | +4.2% |
| 1999 | 82,388 | +5.5% |
| 2000 | 86,164 | +4.6% |
| 2001 | 89,869 | +4.3% |
| 2002 | 93,582 | +4.1% |
| 2003 | 97,414 | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 101,380 | +4.1% |
| 2005 | 105,467 | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 109,679 | +4.0% |
| 2007 | 114,014 | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 118,461 | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 123,041 | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 127,831 | +3.9% |
| 2011 | 132,775 | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 137,751 | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 142,809 | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 149,447 | +4.6% |
| 2015 | 155,137 | +3.8% |
| 2016 | 161,442 | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 166,282 | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 179,388 | +7.9% |
| 2019 | 189,886 | +5.9% |
| 2020 | 151,949 | -20.0% |
| 2021 | 171,060 | +12.6% |
| 2022 | 170,023 | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 172,940 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 174,087 | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 184,286 | +5.9% |
Belize compared with similar countries
- Belize's 184,286 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.32 million, 6% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Belize's 184,286 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 3.32 million, 6% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 67,267 | 56,410 | 82,388 | 10 |
| 2000s | 103,907 | 86,164 | 123,041 | 10 |
| 2010s | 154,275 | 127,831 | 189,886 | 10 |
| 2020s | 170,724 | 151,949 | 184,286 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belize
More education data for Belize
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2,319 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 2,390 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 3,316 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 3,346 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 38,323 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 44,757 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.0671 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1073 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Belize?
- Labor force, total in Belize was 184,286 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Belize?
- The highest recorded value was 189,886 in 2019.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Belize?
- The lowest recorded value was 56,410 in 1990.
- How does Belize rank for labor force, total?
- Belize ranks 175th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Belize?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belize 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.