Labor force, total in Myanmar
Myanmar: Labor force, total was 22.94 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Myanmar, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, total in Myanmar stood at 22.94 million.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and down 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Myanmar peaked at 24.30 million in 2015 and was at its lowest, 17.34 million, in 1990.
Myanmar ranks 31st of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Myanmar, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 17.34 million | — |
| 1991 | 17.70 million | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 18.02 million | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 18.35 million | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 18.68 million | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 19.03 million | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 19.38 million | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 19.74 million | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 20.12 million | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 20.48 million | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 20.80 million | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 21.10 million | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 21.37 million | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 21.59 million | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 21.81 million | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 22.01 million | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 22.20 million | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 22.40 million | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 22.59 million | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 22.77 million | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 23.00 million | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 23.27 million | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 23.54 million | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 23.80 million | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 24.05 million | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 24.30 million | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 24.08 million | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 23.85 million | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 24.24 million | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 23.77 million | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 23.87 million | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 22.12 million | -7.3% |
| 2022 | 22.34 million | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 22.55 million | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 22.74 million | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 22.94 million | +0.9% |
Myanmar compared with similar countries
- Myanmar's 22.94 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.00 million, 4.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Myanmar's 22.94 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.75 million, 6.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.88 million | 17.34 million | 20.48 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.86 million | 20.80 million | 22.77 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.79 million | 23.00 million | 24.30 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.76 million | 22.12 million | 23.87 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Myanmar
More education data for Myanmar
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 153,660 (2018)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 25,434 (2018)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 76,947 (2018)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 77,156 (2018)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.19 million (2018)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.30 million (2018)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.64 % change on previous year (2018)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2018)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1014 units per person (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Myanmar?
- Labor force, total in Myanmar was 22.94 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Myanmar?
- The highest recorded value was 24.30 million in 2015.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Myanmar?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.34 million in 1990.
- How does Myanmar rank for labor force, total?
- Myanmar ranks 31st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Myanmar?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Myanmar 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.