Labor force, total in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Labor force, total was 450.68 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Least developed countries, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force, total in Least developed countries is 450.68 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.7% on the previous year and up 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Least developed countries peaked at 450.68 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 191.64 million, in 1990.
That places Least developed countries 23rd out of 47 groups 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 Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 191.64 million | — |
| 1991 | 196.94 million | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 202.74 million | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 208.76 million | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 215.16 million | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 221.80 million | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 228.03 million | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 234.24 million | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 240.87 million | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 247.68 million | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 254.35 million | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 261.07 million | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 268.09 million | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 275.23 million | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 282.40 million | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 289.70 million | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 296.79 million | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 303.91 million | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 311.01 million | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 318.94 million | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 327.07 million | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 336.00 million | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 341.57 million | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 351.88 million | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 357.85 million | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 364.41 million | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 372.42 million | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 382.31 million | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 392.66 million | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 402.33 million | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 410.56 million | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 420.90 million | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 434.29 million | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 434.47 million | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 438.82 million | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 450.68 million | +2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 218.79 million | 191.64 million | 247.68 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 286.15 million | 254.35 million | 318.94 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 362.85 million | 327.07 million | 402.33 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 431.62 million | 410.56 million | 450.68 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 20 United Kingdom 35.41 million compare
- 21 Tanzania 34.05 million compare
- 22 France 31.86 million compare
- 23 South Korea 29.87 million compare
- 24 Iran 29.52 million compare
- 25 Colombia 27.10 million compare
- 26 South Africa 26.73 million compare
More education data for Least developed countries
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 75.92 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 171.01 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 4.43 million (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 57.7% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 38.4% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1441 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Least developed countries?
- Labor force, total in Least developed countries was 450.68 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 450.68 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 191.64 million in 1990.
- How does Least developed countries rank for labor force, total?
- Least developed countries ranks 23rd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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.