Labor force, total in Spain
Spain: Labor force, total was 24.76 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Spain, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force, total in Spain is 24.76 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.6% on the previous year and up 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Spain peaked at 24.76 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 15.54 million, in 1990.
That places Spain 28th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Spain, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 15.54 million | — |
| 1991 | 15.68 million | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 15.91 million | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 16.14 million | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 16.47 million | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 16.60 million | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 16.87 million | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 17.19 million | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 17.45 million | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 17.76 million | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 18.28 million | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 18.16 million | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 18.99 million | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 19.76 million | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 20.45 million | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 21.23 million | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 21.94 million | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 22.53 million | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 23.16 million | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 23.40 million | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 23.52 million | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 23.59 million | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 23.60 million | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 23.40 million | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 23.18 million | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 23.13 million | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 23.05 million | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 23.03 million | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 23.01 million | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 23.23 million | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 22.92 million | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 23.39 million | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 23.77 million | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 24.15 million | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 24.60 million | +1.9% |
| 2025 | 24.76 million | +0.6% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 24.76 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.08 million, 8.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Spain's 24.76 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.31 million, 7.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.56 million | 15.54 million | 17.76 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.79 million | 18.16 million | 23.40 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.27 million | 23.01 million | 23.60 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.93 million | 22.92 million | 24.76 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More education data for Spain
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 344,203 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 37,817 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 570,954 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 538,977 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.71 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.83 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.058 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Spain?
- Labor force, total in Spain was 24.76 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 24.76 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.54 million in 1990.
- How does Spain rank for labor force, total?
- Spain ranks 28th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Spain 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.