Labor force, total in Pakistan
Pakistan: Labor force, total was 85.16 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Pakistan, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
Pakistan recorded 85.16 million for labor force, total in 2025. 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 23.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Pakistan peaked at 85.16 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 32.07 million, in 1990.
That places Pakistan 7th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 32.07 million | — |
| 1991 | 33.33 million | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 34.18 million | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 34.70 million | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 35.66 million | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 36.14 million | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 37.98 million | +5.1% |
| 1997 | 39.91 million | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 41.08 million | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 42.61 million | +3.7% |
| 2000 | 44.28 million | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 45.85 million | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 47.27 million | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 48.82 million | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 50.56 million | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 51.86 million | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 53.14 million | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 55.03 million | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 56.98 million | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 59.31 million | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 61.63 million | +3.9% |
| 2011 | 62.97 million | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 64.74 million | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 66.31 million | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 66.80 million | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 69.23 million | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 69.80 million | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 70.49 million | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 71.40 million | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 73.73 million | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 75.33 million | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 78.81 million | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 80.06 million | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 81.61 million | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 83.22 million | +2.0% |
| 2025 | 85.16 million | +2.3% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 85.16 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.00 million, 17.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 85.16 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 4.83 million, 17.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 36.76 million | 32.07 million | 42.61 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 51.31 million | 44.28 million | 59.31 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 67.71 million | 61.63 million | 73.73 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 80.70 million | 75.33 million | 85.16 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More education data for Pakistan
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.04 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 440,233 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 5.05 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.90 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 19.70 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.38 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.1 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.101 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Pakistan?
- Labor force, total in Pakistan was 85.16 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 85.16 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.07 million in 1990.
- How does Pakistan rank for labor force, total?
- Pakistan ranks 7th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this 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.