Labor force, total in North America
North America: Labor force, total was 197.68 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in North America, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force, total in North America is 197.68 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in North America peaked at 197.68 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 142.48 million, in 1990.
North America ranks 38th of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in North America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 142.48 million | — |
| 1991 | 143.47 million | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 145.54 million | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 147.04 million | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 149.53 million | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 151.64 million | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 153.95 million | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 156.77 million | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 158.74 million | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 161.01 million | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 163.33 million | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 164.67 million | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 166.18 million | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 167.33 million | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 168.77 million | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 170.83 million | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 173.25 million | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 174.88 million | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 176.85 million | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 177.10 million | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 177.26 million | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 177.65 million | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 179.01 million | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 179.68 million | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 180.47 million | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 181.63 million | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 183.74 million | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 185.75 million | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 187.39 million | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 189.72 million | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 187.07 million | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 188.19 million | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 190.95 million | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 194.44 million | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 196.84 million | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 197.68 million | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 151.02 million | 142.48 million | 161.01 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 170.32 million | 163.33 million | 177.10 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 182.23 million | 177.26 million | 189.72 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 192.53 million | 187.07 million | 197.68 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near North America
- 35 Peru 19.24 million compare
- 36 Malaysia 18.72 million compare
- 37 Saudi Arabia 18.38 million compare
- 38 Poland 18.17 million compare
- 39 North Korea 17.70 million compare
- 40 Madagascar 17.09 million compare
- 41 Angola 16.32 million compare
More education data for North America
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0687 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 26.20 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.2703 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 64.5% (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 2.04 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 28.14 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 16.9% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in North America?
- Labor force, total in North America was 197.68 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in North America?
- The highest recorded value was 197.68 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 142.48 million in 1990.
- How does North America rank for labor force, total?
- North America ranks 38th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North America 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.