Labor force, total in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan: Labor force, total was 264.22 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 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 stood at 264.22 million. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.3% on the previous year and up 19.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan peaked at 264.22 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 105.17 million, in 1990.
That places Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 33rd 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 105.17 million | — |
| 1991 | 108.70 million | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 112.24 million | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 115.43 million | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 119.06 million | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 121.62 million | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 125.73 million | +3.4% |
| 1997 | 130.32 million | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 134.27 million | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 139.81 million | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 144.27 million | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 148.31 million | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 151.98 million | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 157.53 million | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 163.57 million | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 169.40 million | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 174.75 million | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 180.72 million | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 185.01 million | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 191.52 million | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 197.40 million | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 201.10 million | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 206.71 million | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 211.79 million | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 215.60 million | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 221.05 million | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 225.85 million | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 228.17 million | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 230.13 million | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 234.23 million | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 233.53 million | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 239.92 million | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 246.67 million | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 254.19 million | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 258.29 million | +1.6% |
| 2025 | 264.22 million | +2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 121.24 million | 105.17 million | 139.81 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 166.71 million | 144.27 million | 191.52 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 217.20 million | 197.40 million | 234.23 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 249.47 million | 233.53 million | 264.22 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
More education data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 68.09 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.113 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 63.1% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 31.7% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 3.29 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.65 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 91.90 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan →
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Labor force, total in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan was 264.22 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?
- The highest recorded value was 264.22 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 105.17 million in 1990.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan rank for labor force, total?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 33rd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 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.