Labor force, total in Brunei
Brunei: Labor force, total was 237,763 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Brunei, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
Brunei recorded 237,763 for labor force, total in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 12.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Brunei peaked at 237,763 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 111,227, in 1990.
Brunei ranks 173rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Brunei, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 111,227 | — |
| 1991 | 114,327 | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 118,249 | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 122,467 | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 126,837 | +3.6% |
| 1995 | 131,354 | +3.6% |
| 1996 | 135,999 | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 140,730 | +3.5% |
| 1998 | 145,533 | +3.4% |
| 1999 | 150,477 | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 155,602 | +3.4% |
| 2001 | 160,781 | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 165,377 | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 169,865 | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 174,224 | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 178,441 | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 182,482 | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 185,717 | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 188,400 | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 191,439 | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 194,946 | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 198,704 | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 202,249 | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 205,548 | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 208,771 | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 211,934 | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 215,000 | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 218,025 | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 225,919 | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 223,877 | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 224,330 | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 227,037 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 230,003 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 234,630 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 236,334 | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 237,763 | +0.6% |
Brunei compared with similar countries
- Brunei's 237,763 is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.08 million, 8% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Brunei's 237,763 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.75 million, 6% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 129,720 | 111,227 | 150,477 | 10 |
| 2000s | 175,233 | 155,602 | 191,439 | 10 |
| 2010s | 210,497 | 194,946 | 225,919 | 10 |
| 2020s | 231,683 | 224,330 | 237,763 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Brunei
More education data for Brunei
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 5,040 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 66 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 6,407 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 6,068 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 40,924 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 37,751 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.21 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0816 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Brunei?
- Labor force, total in Brunei was 237,763 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Brunei?
- The highest recorded value was 237,763 in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Brunei?
- The lowest recorded value was 111,227 in 1990.
- How does Brunei rank for labor force, total?
- Brunei ranks 173rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Brunei?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Brunei 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.