In this article, we will look at the 5 countries with the largest labor force in the world. If you wish to look at our detailed analysis, you can go directly to 20 Countries with the Largest Labor Force in the World.
5. Brazil
Total Labor Force as of 2023: 108,695,239 people
Brazil is the largest country in South America by area, and has a population of 215.3 million as of 2022, according to the World Bank. It ranks fifth on our list of the 20 countries with the largest labor force in the world, with a total labor force of 108.69 million people, as of 2023.
4. Indonesia
Total Labor Force as of 2023: 140,931,083 people
Indonesia is a Southeast Asian country with a total population of 275.5 million as of 2022, according to estimates by the World Bank. The country ranks fourth on our list, with a total labor force of 140.93 million people as of 2023. Indonesia’s labor force decreased from 136.10 million in 2020 to 134.38 million in 2021. However, it made a recovery in 2022 by growing to 138.09 million.
3. United States
Total Labor Force as of 2023: 170,602,911 people
The United States has the third largest labor force in the world, with 170,602,911 workers as of 2023. The country’s population reduced from 167.10 million in 2019 to 165.64 million in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but has recovered since then. It increased to 166.18 million in 2021, before eventually growing to 168.19 million in 2022. Despite several notable companies shifting their manufacturing plants to other parts of the world, the total labor force in the United States is undergoing a steady increase.
2. India
Total Labor Force as of 2023: 593,729,164 people
India ranks second on our list, with a total labor force of 593,729,164 people as of 2023. The country’s total labor force has been increasing steadily since 2020. In fact, the Indian labor force increased during the economic and industrial recession brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the majority of the labor force in the world decreased, the Indian labor force grew from 520,273,563 million in 2019 to 520,521,842 million in 2020. The numbers have continued to increase since then, going from 535,026,273 million in 2021 to 554,145,127 million in 2022.
1. China
Total Labor Force as of 2023: 779,890,786 people
China ranks first on our list of the 20 countries with the largest labor force in the world, with a total labor force of more than 779,890,786 people as of 2023. The country has become the world’s production center, with several notable companies shifting their manufacturing plants to China. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a reduction in the country’s total labor force in 2020, bringing it down to 763,684,716 million. The number recovered within a year, growing to 780,370,660 million, higher than its pre-pandemic levels. However, the country has seen a decrease in its workforce between 2022 and 2023, going from 781,808,304 million in 2022 to 779,890,786 million in 2023.
You can also look at 15 States With the Most Federal Workers in the US and 13 Countries for Unskilled Workers to Immigrate to.
