Labor force, total in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Labor force, total was 1.21 million in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force, total in Puerto Rico, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
Puerto Rico recorded 1.21 million for labor force, total in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and up 7.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Puerto Rico peaked at 1.43 million in 2005 and was at its lowest, 1.08 million, in 2018.
Puerto Rico ranks 141st of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.15 million | — |
| 1991 | 1.19 million | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 1.20 million | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 1.26 million | +4.9% |
| 1994 | 1.27 million | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 1.27 million | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 1.31 million | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 1.35 million | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 1.36 million | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 1.37 million | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 1.34 million | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 1.35 million | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 1.36 million | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 1.38 million | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 1.39 million | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 1.43 million | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 1.41 million | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 1.38 million | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 1.34 million | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 1.29 million | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 1.26 million | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 1.21 million | -3.5% |
| 2012 | 1.19 million | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 1.17 million | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 1.14 million | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 1.12 million | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 1.12 million | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 1.10 million | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 1.08 million | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 1.10 million | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 1.12 million | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 1.17 million | +5.3% |
| 2022 | 1.18 million | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 1.19 million | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 1.21 million | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 1.21 million | +0.3% |
Puerto Rico compared with similar countries
- Puerto Rico's 1.21 million is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.08 million, 39% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Puerto Rico's 1.21 million is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 3.32 million, 36% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.27 million | 1.15 million | 1.37 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.37 million | 1.29 million | 1.43 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.15 million | 1.08 million | 1.26 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.18 million | 1.12 million | 1.21 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
More education data for Puerto Rico
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 20,845 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 14,445 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 13,807 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 171,527 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 144,542 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -3.81 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0451 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Puerto Rico?
- Labor force, total in Puerto Rico was 1.21 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 1.43 million in 2005.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.08 million in 2018.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for labor force, total?
- Puerto Rico ranks 141st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Puerto Rico 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.