Labor force, total in Cuba
Cuba: Labor force, total was 4.86 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Cuba, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force, total in Cuba is 4.86 million, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.8% on the previous year and down 6.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Cuba peaked at 5.23 million in 2017 and was at its lowest, 4.29 million, in 1990.
That places Cuba 88th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Cuba, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 4.29 million | — |
| 1991 | 4.34 million | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 4.38 million | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 4.40 million | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 4.44 million | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 4.48 million | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 4.52 million | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 4.56 million | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 4.60 million | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 4.65 million | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 4.70 million | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 4.74 million | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 4.77 million | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 4.81 million | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 4.85 million | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 4.90 million | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 4.94 million | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 4.98 million | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 5.01 million | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 5.14 million | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 5.10 million | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 5.12 million | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 5.15 million | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 5.17 million | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 5.20 million | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 5.22 million | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 5.23 million | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 5.23 million | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 5.22 million | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 5.20 million | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 4.94 million | -5.0% |
| 2021 | 4.95 million | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 5.01 million | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 4.95 million | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 4.90 million | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 4.86 million | -0.8% |
Cuba compared with similar countries
- Cuba's 4.86 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.32 million, 1.5× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Cuba's 4.86 million is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 3.32 million, 1.5× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.46 million | 4.29 million | 4.65 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.88 million | 4.70 million | 5.14 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.18 million | 5.10 million | 5.23 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.93 million | 4.86 million | 5.01 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Cuba
More education data for Cuba
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 78,576 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 4,635 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 171,121 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 162,406 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 662,491 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 698,052 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -3.62 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2020)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0636 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Cuba?
- Labor force, total in Cuba was 4.86 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Cuba?
- The highest recorded value was 5.23 million in 2017.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Cuba?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.29 million in 1990.
- How does Cuba rank for labor force, total?
- Cuba ranks 88th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Cuba?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Cuba 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.