Labor force, total in Thailand
Thailand: Labor force, total was 40.87 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Thailand, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, total in Thailand stood at 40.87 million.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Thailand peaked at 41.29 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 28.84 million, in 1990.
That places Thailand 16th 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 Thailand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 28.84 million | — |
| 1991 | 29.59 million | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 30.32 million | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 31.02 million | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 31.69 million | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 32.50 million | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 33.28 million | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 33.93 million | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 34.18 million | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 34.29 million | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 35.01 million | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 35.64 million | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 36.07 million | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 36.49 million | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 37.01 million | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 37.54 million | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 37.76 million | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 38.46 million | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 38.96 million | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 39.42 million | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 39.24 million | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 40.58 million | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 40.84 million | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 39.68 million | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 39.96 million | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 40.02 million | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 39.82 million | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 39.72 million | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 40.19 million | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 39.95 million | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 40.25 million | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 40.44 million | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 40.75 million | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 41.29 million | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 41.01 million | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 40.87 million | -0.3% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 40.87 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.32 million, 12.3× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 40.87 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.75 million, 10.9× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 31.96 million | 28.84 million | 34.29 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.24 million | 35.01 million | 39.42 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.00 million | 39.24 million | 40.84 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.77 million | 40.25 million | 41.29 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
More education data for Thailand
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 243,991 (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 13,596 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 758,147 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 716,498 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.26 million (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.45 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0621 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Thailand?
- Labor force, total in Thailand was 40.87 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 41.29 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.84 million in 1990.
- How does Thailand rank for labor force, total?
- Thailand ranks 16th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Thailand 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.