Labor force, total in Switzerland
Switzerland: Labor force, total was 5.17 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Switzerland, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, total in Switzerland stood at 5.17 million. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and up 7.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Switzerland peaked at 5.17 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3.60 million, in 1990.
That places Switzerland 84th out of 187 countries 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 Switzerland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3.60 million | — |
| 1991 | 3.65 million | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 3.68 million | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 3.72 million | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 3.69 million | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 3.72 million | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 3.93 million | +5.7% |
| 1997 | 3.93 million | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 3.98 million | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 3.99 million | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 3.99 million | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 4.06 million | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 4.11 million | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 4.15 million | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 4.16 million | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 4.18 million | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 4.24 million | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 4.31 million | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 4.41 million | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 4.48 million | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 4.45 million | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 4.54 million | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 4.60 million | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 4.65 million | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 4.74 million | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 4.81 million | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 4.89 million | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 4.93 million | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 4.96 million | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 4.98 million | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 4.99 million | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 5.01 million | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 5.00 million | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 5.10 million | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 5.14 million | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 5.17 million | +0.5% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 5.17 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.08 million, 1.7× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 5.17 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.31 million, 1.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.79 million | 3.60 million | 3.99 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.21 million | 3.99 million | 4.48 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.75 million | 4.45 million | 4.98 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.07 million | 4.99 million | 5.17 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More education data for Switzerland
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 68,266 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 5,583 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 94,990 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 89,549 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 636,381 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 556,945 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.34 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0618 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Switzerland?
- Labor force, total in Switzerland was 5.17 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 5.17 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.60 million in 1990.
- How does Switzerland rank for labor force, total?
- Switzerland ranks 84th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.