Employment in World: Low income

World: Low income: Employment was 272,397 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)
272,397
Change on year
up 3.1%
Rank
30th
of 87 groups
All-time high
272,397
in 2025
All-time low
111,492
in 1991
Years of data
35
1991–2025

Employment in World: Low income, 1991–2025

0100.0k200.0k300.0k1991200820251991: 111.5k1992: 114.7k1993: 118.0k1994: 121.4k1995: 125.0k1996: 128.4k1997: 131.6k1998: 135.0k1999: 138.7k2000: 142.3k2001: 146.1k2002: 150.3k2003: 154.7k2004: 159.3k2005: 164.1k2006: 168.6k2007: 173.0k2008: 177.4k2009: 182.5k2010: 187.2k2011: 193.5k2012: 195.9k2013: 203.4k2014: 206.1k2015: 209.1k2016: 213.2k2017: 217.6k2018: 223.6k2019: 229.4k2020: 232.2k2021: 238.3k2022: 248.4k2023: 256.4k2024: 264.3k2025: 272.4k

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for employment in World: Low income is 272,397, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 30.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, employment in World: Low income peaked at 272,397 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 111,492, in 1991.

World: Low income ranks 30th of 87 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.

Employment in World: Low income, year by year

Annual values for Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in World: Low income, 1991 to 2025.
Year Value Change
1991 111,492
1992 114,730 +2.9%
1993 118,013 +2.9%
1994 121,361 +2.8%
1995 125,046 +3.0%
1996 128,389 +2.7%
1997 131,602 +2.5%
1998 135,009 +2.6%
1999 138,695 +2.7%
2000 142,340 +2.6%
2001 146,111 +2.6%
2002 150,300 +2.9%
2003 154,708 +2.9%
2004 159,345 +3.0%
2005 164,119 +3.0%
2006 168,564 +2.7%
2007 173,030 +2.6%
2008 177,429 +2.5%
2009 182,473 +2.8%
2010 187,225 +2.6%
2011 193,539 +3.4%
2012 195,874 +1.2%
2013 203,368 +3.8%
2014 206,075 +1.3%
2015 209,051 +1.4%
2016 213,223 +2.0%
2017 217,636 +2.1%
2018 223,567 +2.7%
2019 229,387 +2.6%
2020 232,202 +1.2%
2021 238,262 +2.6%
2022 248,362 +4.2%
2023 256,449 +3.3%
2024 264,316 +3.1%
2025 272,397 +3.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 124,926 111,492 138,695 9
2000s 161,842 142,340 182,473 10
2010s 207,894 187,225 229,387 10
2020s 251,998 232,202 272,397 6

Countries ranked near World: Low income

  1. 27 Kenya 23,365 compare
  2. 28 Uganda 22,752 compare
  3. 29 Myanmar 22,242 compare
  4. 30 Spain 21,531 compare
  5. 31 Argentina 20,820 compare
  6. 32 Canada 20,490 compare
  7. 33 Ukraine 18,519 compare

See the full ranking of 276 places →

More work & labour data for World: Low income

All data for World: Low income →

Frequently asked questions

What is employment in World: Low income?
Employment in World: Low income was 272,397 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest employment recorded in World: Low income?
The highest recorded value was 272,397 in 2025.
What is the lowest employment recorded in World: Low income?
The lowest recorded value was 111,492 in 1991.
How does World: Low income rank for employment?
World: Low income ranks 30th out of 87 groups with data for 2025.
Is employment rising or falling in World: Low income?
Over the last ten years it is up 30.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this World: Low income data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment (ILO modelled estimates). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Employment in World: Low income. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/employment-ilo-modelled-estimates/world-low-income/

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About this data

Indicator
Employment (ILO modelled estimates)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
276 places, 9,646 data points, 1991–2025
Last refreshed

Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The employed comprise all persons of working age who, during a specified brief period, were in one of the following categories: a) paid employment (whether at work or with a job but not at work); or b) self-employment (whether at work or with an enterprise but not at work). Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.