Labor force, total in Congo
Congo: Labor force, total was 2.64 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Congo, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
Congo recorded 2.64 million for labor force, total in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 3.2% on the previous year and up 31.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Congo peaked at 2.64 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 912,788, in 1990.
Congo ranks 120th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Congo, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 912,788 | — |
| 1991 | 941,577 | +3.2% |
| 1992 | 971,096 | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 1.00 million | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 1.04 million | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 1.07 million | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 1.10 million | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 1.12 million | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 1.15 million | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 1.18 million | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 1.24 million | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 1.29 million | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 1.33 million | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 1.37 million | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 1.42 million | +3.9% |
| 2005 | 1.48 million | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 1.54 million | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 1.60 million | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 1.65 million | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 1.73 million | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 1.80 million | +4.4% |
| 2011 | 1.85 million | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 1.90 million | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 1.94 million | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 1.98 million | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 2.02 million | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 2.06 million | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 2.11 million | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 2.17 million | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 2.22 million | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 2.18 million | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 2.26 million | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 2.41 million | +6.7% |
| 2023 | 2.48 million | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 2.56 million | +3.1% |
| 2025 | 2.64 million | +3.2% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 2.64 million is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.00 million, 53% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Congo's 2.64 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.13 million, 43% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.05 million | 912,788 | 1.18 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.46 million | 1.24 million | 1.73 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.00 million | 1.80 million | 2.22 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.42 million | 2.18 million | 2.64 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More education data for Congo
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 38,064 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 70,276 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 12,245 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 13,478 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 339,250 (2012)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 880,625 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2012)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1424 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Congo?
- Labor force, total in Congo was 2.64 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 2.64 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 912,788 in 1990.
- How does Congo rank for labor force, total?
- Congo ranks 120th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Congo 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.