Labor force, total in OECD members
OECD members: Labor force, total was 709.91 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in OECD members, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force, total in OECD members is 709.91 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in OECD members peaked at 709.91 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 516.50 million, in 1990.
That places OECD members 15th 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 OECD members, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 516.50 million | — |
| 1991 | 523.54 million | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 528.61 million | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 531.79 million | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 538.97 million | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 544.22 million | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 550.85 million | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 558.12 million | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 563.00 million | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 568.45 million | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 572.77 million | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 576.69 million | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 581.56 million | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 586.88 million | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 591.53 million | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 599.14 million | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 606.96 million | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 612.61 million | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 619.56 million | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 624.08 million | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 628.04 million | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 632.07 million | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 638.70 million | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 643.10 million | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 647.13 million | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 652.52 million | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 659.30 million | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 666.08 million | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 673.19 million | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 680.32 million | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 668.48 million | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 678.62 million | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 689.68 million | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 700.39 million | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 707.05 million | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 709.91 million | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 542.40 million | 516.50 million | 568.45 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 597.18 million | 572.77 million | 624.08 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 652.04 million | 628.04 million | 680.32 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 692.36 million | 668.48 million | 709.91 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near OECD members
More education data for OECD members
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.2049 % change on previous year (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 116.41 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 16.4% (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 91.38 million (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 6.28 million (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 64.5% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0654 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in OECD members?
- Labor force, total in OECD members was 709.91 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in OECD members?
- The highest recorded value was 709.91 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in OECD members?
- The lowest recorded value was 516.50 million in 1990.
- How does OECD members rank for labor force, total?
- OECD members ranks 15th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in OECD members?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this OECD members 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.