Employment in Pakistan
Pakistan: Employment was 77,642 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in Pakistan, 1973–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in Pakistan is 77,642, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 49 years on record.
That represents a change of up 40.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in Pakistan peaked at 77,642 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 20,093, in 1973.
That places Pakistan 7th out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 49 years of available data.
Employment in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 20,093 | — |
| 1974 | 20,424 | +1.6% |
| 1975 | 20,679 | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 21,295 | +3.0% |
| 1977 | 21,930 | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 22,596 | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 23,618 | +4.5% |
| 1980 | 24,341 | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 25,085 | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 25,861 | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 25,856 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | 26,658 | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 26,961 | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 27,033 | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 28,703 | +6.2% |
| 1988 | 28,995 | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 29,053 | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 29,797 | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 28,681 | -3.7% |
| 1992 | 29,694 | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 30,534 | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 31,288 | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 31,407 | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 32,491 | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 34,597 | +6.5% |
| 1998 | 36,419 | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 37,296 | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 36,847 | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 37,481 | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 38,882 | +3.7% |
| 2003 | 39,852 | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 42,009 | +5.4% |
| 2005 | 42,816 | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 46,952 | +9.7% |
| 2007 | 47,651 | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 49,090 | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 48,211 | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 49,391 | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 51,382 | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 36,941 | -28.1% |
| 2013 | 53,673 | +45.3% |
| 2014 | 54,341 | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 55,278 | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 59,138 | +7.0% |
| 2018 | 59,794 | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 59,034 | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 50,322 | -14.8% |
| 2021 | 61,652 | +22.5% |
| 2025 | 77,642 | +25.9% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 77,642 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5,239, 14.8× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 77,642 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 4,279, 18.1× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Employment in Pakistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +45.3% | 36,941 | 53,673 |
| 2012 | -28.1% | 51,382 | 36,941 |
| 2025 | +25.9% | 61,652 | 77,642 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 21,519 | 20,093 | 23,618 | 7 |
| 1980s | 26,855 | 24,341 | 29,053 | 10 |
| 1990s | 32,220 | 28,681 | 37,296 | 10 |
| 2000s | 42,979 | 36,847 | 49,090 | 10 |
| 2010s | 53,219 | 36,941 | 59,794 | 9 |
| 2020s | 63,206 | 50,322 | 77,642 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More work & labour data for Pakistan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1658 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.1724 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.4553 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.11 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 160,228 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 146,712 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 259,090 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 251,911 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 511,001 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in Pakistan?
- Employment in Pakistan was 77,642 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 77,642 in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 20,093 in 1973.
- How does Pakistan rank for employment?
- Pakistan ranks 7th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Pakistan data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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