Labor force, total in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD): Labor force, total was 224.19 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD), 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, total in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) stood at 224.19 million. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.0% on the previous year and up 18.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) peaked at 224.19 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 96.88 million, in 1990.
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) ranks 35th of 47 groups 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 96.88 million | — |
| 1991 | 100.10 million | +3.3% |
| 1992 | 103.08 million | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 105.81 million | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 109.02 million | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 111.18 million | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 114.90 million | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 119.06 million | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 122.57 million | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 127.59 million | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 131.35 million | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 134.84 million | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 137.89 million | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 142.64 million | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 147.89 million | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 152.82 million | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 157.07 million | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 161.61 million | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 164.51 million | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 169.81 million | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 174.92 million | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 177.11 million | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 180.79 million | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 184.04 million | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 186.40 million | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 189.94 million | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 193.15 million | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 195.26 million | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 197.19 million | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 200.73 million | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 199.49 million | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 205.98 million | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 210.57 million | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 217.28 million | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 219.76 million | +1.1% |
| 2025 | 224.19 million | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 111.02 million | 96.88 million | 127.59 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 150.04 million | 131.35 million | 169.81 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 187.95 million | 174.92 million | 200.73 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 212.88 million | 199.49 million | 224.19 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
More education data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
- Population ages 15-64 62.1% (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 32.6% (2025)
- Number of infant deaths, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Number of under-five deaths, female, annual growth rate -3.23 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of infant deaths, female, annual growth rate -2.7 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of infant deaths, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Number of infant deaths, male, per capita 0.0004 units per person (2024)
- Number of under-five deaths, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- Labor force, total in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) was 224.19 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- The highest recorded value was 224.19 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- The lowest recorded value was 96.88 million in 1990.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) rank for labor force, total?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) ranks 35th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 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.