Labor force, total in Madagascar
Madagascar: Labor force, total was 17.09 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Madagascar, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
Madagascar recorded 17.09 million for labor force, total in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 34.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Madagascar peaked at 17.09 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.62 million, in 1990.
That places Madagascar 40th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Madagascar, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5.62 million | — |
| 1991 | 5.81 million | +3.3% |
| 1992 | 6.00 million | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 6.19 million | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 6.40 million | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 6.61 million | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 6.83 million | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 7.06 million | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 7.29 million | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 7.53 million | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 7.78 million | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 8.03 million | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 8.28 million | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 8.53 million | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 8.80 million | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 9.09 million | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 9.39 million | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 9.71 million | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 10.04 million | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 10.38 million | +3.4% |
| 2010 | 10.74 million | +3.4% |
| 2011 | 11.11 million | +3.5% |
| 2012 | 11.50 million | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 11.89 million | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 12.29 million | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 12.70 million | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 13.09 million | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 13.48 million | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 13.89 million | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 14.30 million | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 14.60 million | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 15.11 million | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 15.64 million | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 16.11 million | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 16.60 million | +3.0% |
| 2025 | 17.09 million | +3.0% |
Madagascar compared with similar countries
- Madagascar's 17.09 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 8.16 million, 2.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Madagascar's 17.09 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.13 million, 2.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.54 million | 5.62 million | 7.53 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.00 million | 7.78 million | 10.38 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.50 million | 10.74 million | 14.30 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.86 million | 14.60 million | 17.09 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Madagascar
- 37 Saudi Arabia 18.38 million compare
- 38 Poland 18.17 million compare
- 39 North Korea 17.70 million compare
- 41 Angola 16.32 million compare
- 42 Mozambique 15.66 million compare
- 43 Australia 15.13 million compare
More education data for Madagascar
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 78,148 (2019)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1.09 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 507,363 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 544,966 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.62 million (2021)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.29 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.53 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1656 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Madagascar?
- Labor force, total in Madagascar was 17.09 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Madagascar?
- The highest recorded value was 17.09 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Madagascar?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.62 million in 1990.
- How does Madagascar rank for labor force, total?
- Madagascar ranks 40th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Madagascar?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Madagascar 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.