Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in Southern Asia

Southern Asia: Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) was 860,076 in 2027. ▲ Rising

Latest (2027)
860,076
Change on year
up 1.5%
Rank
12th
of 85 groups
All-time high
860,076
in 2027
All-time low
406,453
in 1990
Years of data
38
1990–2027

Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in Southern Asia, 1990–2027

0200.0k400.0k600.0k800.0k1990200820271990: 406.5k1991: 417.1k1992: 427.8k1993: 438.4k1994: 449.6k1995: 462.4k1996: 477.3k1997: 493.1k1998: 509.0k1999: 525.0k2000: 541.3k2001: 554.4k2002: 567.1k2003: 579.9k2004: 593.2k2005: 606.0k2006: 611.8k2007: 617.7k2008: 622.5k2009: 629.5k2010: 635.8k2011: 641.7k2012: 649.8k2013: 660.7k2014: 670.7k2015: 683.6k2016: 694.6k2017: 708.4k2018: 718.6k2019: 730.0k2020: 732.2k2021: 756.3k2022: 778.1k2023: 801.2k2024: 821.6k2025: 834.3k2026: 847.2k2027: 860.1k

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

Southern Asia recorded 860,076 for labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in 2027. That is the highest value across all 38 years on record.

That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and up 21.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in Southern Asia peaked at 860,076 in 2027 and was at its lowest, 406,453, in 1990.

That places Southern Asia 12th out of 85 groups with data for 2027, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.

Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in Southern Asia, year by year

Annual values for Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in Southern Asia, 1990 to 2027.
Year Value Change
1990 406,453 —
1991 417,137 +2.6%
1992 427,758 +2.5%
1993 438,381 +2.5%
1994 449,604 +2.6%
1995 462,361 +2.8%
1996 477,349 +3.2%
1997 493,073 +3.3%
1998 508,986 +3.2%
1999 524,993 +3.1%
2000 541,284 +3.1%
2001 554,397 +2.4%
2002 567,123 +2.3%
2003 579,926 +2.3%
2004 593,224 +2.3%
2005 606,017 +2.2%
2006 611,758 +0.9%
2007 617,721 +1.0%
2008 622,524 +0.8%
2009 629,537 +1.1%
2010 635,818 +1.0%
2011 641,736 +0.9%
2012 649,793 +1.3%
2013 660,700 +1.7%
2014 670,709 +1.5%
2015 683,643 +1.9%
2016 694,574 +1.6%
2017 708,401 +2.0%
2018 718,624 +1.4%
2019 729,993 +1.6%
2020 732,234 +0.3%
2021 756,282 +3.3%
2022 778,127 +2.9%
2023 801,224 +3.0%
2024 821,561 +2.5%
2025 834,349 +1.6%
2026 847,237 +1.5%
2027 860,076 +1.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 460,610 406,453 524,993 10
2000s 592,351 541,284 629,537 10
2010s 679,399 635,818 729,993 10
2020s 803,886 732,234 860,076 8

Countries ranked near Southern Asia

  1. 9 Russia 71,526 compare
  2. 10 Japan 69,077 compare
  3. 11 Mexico 63,308 compare
  4. 12 Ethiopia 60,179 compare
  5. 13 Vietnam 57,816 compare
  6. 14 Philippines 54,020 compare
  7. 15 Germany 42,980 compare

See the full ranking of 276 places →

More work & labour data for Southern Asia

All data for Southern Asia →

Frequently asked questions

What is labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in Southern Asia?
Labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in Southern Asia was 860,076 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest labour force (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Southern Asia?
The highest recorded value was 860,076 in 2027.
What is the lowest labour force (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Southern Asia?
The lowest recorded value was 406,453 in 1990.
How does Southern Asia rank for labour force (ilo modelled estimates)?
Southern Asia ranks 12th out of 85 groups with data for 2027.
Is labour force (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Southern Asia?
Over the last ten years it is up 21.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Southern Asia data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in Southern Asia. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 06 October 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labour-force-ilo-modelled-estimates-15/southern-asia/

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About this data

Indicator
Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
276 places, 10,464 data points, 1990–2027
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 labour force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.