Number of strikes and lockouts by country
A strike is a temporary work stoppage carried out by one or more groups of workers with a view to enforcing or resisting demands or expressing grievances, or supporting other workers in their demands or grievances. A lockout is a total or partial temporary closure of one or more places of employment, or the...
What the numbers show
Number of strikes and lockouts is currently reported for 98 countries. The highest value is 3,036 in Germany; the lowest is 0 in Malaysia.
The median across all reporting countries is 8.5, and the mean is 116.63.
Over the past decade 31 countries rose and 45 fell. The largest increase was in Cambodia (up 4,650.0%), and the largest decrease in Belarus (down 100.0%).
Number of strikes and lockouts: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | 3,036 | 2024 | up 376.6% | volatile |
| 2 | Brazil | 1,118 | 2019 | up 115.8% | volatile |
| 3 | Italy | 889 | 2009 | up 18.1% | volatile |
| 4 | Canada | 778 | 2023 | up 371.5% | volatile |
| 5 | Spain | 707 | 2024 | down 9.0% | falling |
| 6 | France | 699 | 2004 | down 58.2% | falling |
| 7 | Argentina | 614 | 2024 | down 54.1% | falling |
| 8 | Tunisia | 382 | 2007 | up 25.2% | rising |
| 9 | Morocco | 267 | 2002 | — | rising |
| 10 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 257 | 2024 | up 65.8% | volatile |
| 11 | Portugal | 238 | 2023 | up 100.0% | falling |
| 12 | Indonesia | 234 | 1997 | up 1,276.5% | volatile |
| 13 | Australia | 194 | 2024 | down 9.8% | volatile |
| 14 | Guyana | 177 | 2007 | down 42.0% | falling |
| 15 | Bolivia, Plurinational State of | 174 | 1999 | up 987.5% | volatile |
| 16 | Uruguay | 121 | 2022 | unchanged | falling |
| 17 | South Africa | 114 | 2024 | up 29.5% | volatile |
| 18 | New Zealand | 110 | 2019 | up 254.8% | volatile |
| 19 | Chile | 106 | 2024 | down 47.3% | volatile |
| 20 | India | 102 | 2016 | down 76.3% | volatile |
| 21 | Cambodia | 95 | 2001 | up 4,650.0% | volatile |
| 22 | Denmark | 86 | 2024 | down 73.0% | volatile |
| 23 | Japan | 75 | 2023 | up 5.6% | volatile |
| 23 | Belgium | 75 | 2000 | up 127.3% | volatile |
| 25 | Peru | 63 | 2024 | down 33.7% | volatile |
| 26 | Zambia | 60 | 1997 | — | volatile |
| 27 | Finland | 55 | 2024 | down 57.0% | volatile |
| 28 | Netherlands | 36 | 2024 | up 44.0% | rising |
| 29 | Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of | 35 | 2002 | up 133.3% | volatile |
| 29 | Algeria | 35 | 2004 | down 91.5% | volatile |
| 31 | Israel | 32 | 2022 | up 33.3% | volatile |
| 32 | United States of America | 31 | 2024 | up 181.8% | volatile |
| 33 | Türkiye | 29 | 2024 | up 38.1% | volatile |
| 34 | Kenya | 26 | 1975 | down 76.4% | falling |
| 34 | Cyprus | 26 | 2023 | down 44.7% | volatile |
| 36 | Ghana | 24 | 1991 | — | volatile |
| 36 | Netherlands Antilles | 24 | 2000 | unchanged | rising |
| 38 | Nepal | 22 | 2002 | down 86.2% | volatile |
| 39 | New Caledonia | 20 | 2015 | down 64.3% | falling |
| 40 | Guatemala | 18 | 1996 | — | volatile |
| 41 | Pakistan | 17 | 2003 | down 32.0% | volatile |
| 42 | Poland | 14 | 2024 | up 1,300.0% | volatile |
| 43 | Sri Lanka | 13 | 2024 | down 65.8% | volatile |
| 44 | Ecuador | 12 | 2012 | down 29.4% | volatile |
| 44 | Republic of Korea | 12 | 2024 | down 89.2% | volatile |
| 46 | Cameroon | 11 | 1986 | up 266.7% | volatile |
| 46 | Ukraine | 11 | 2021 | up 1,000.0% | volatile |
| 48 | Norway | 10 | 2024 | unchanged | volatile |
| 49 | Mongolia | 9 | 2024 | down 96.2% | volatile |
| 50 | Romania | 8 | 2008 | down 85.2% | volatile |
| 50 | Barbados | 8 | 2015 | up 60.0% | volatile |
| 52 | Mexico | 7 | 2022 | down 63.2% | volatile |
| 53 | Myanmar | 6 | 2008 | — | volatile |
| 53 | Sweden | 6 | 2023 | down 45.5% | volatile |
| 55 | Ireland | 5 | 2024 | down 54.5% | volatile |
| 55 | Switzerland | 5 | 2024 | down 37.5% | volatile |
| 55 | Eswatini | 5 | 2019 | — | volatile |
| 55 | Hungary | 5 | 2024 | up 400.0% | volatile |
| 55 | Hong Kong, China | 5 | 2018 | up 25.0% | volatile |
| 55 | Burkina Faso | 5 | 2022 | — | volatile |
| 61 | Bangladesh | 4 | 2000 | down 20.0% | volatile |
| 61 | El Salvador | 4 | 2021 | down 60.0% | volatile |
| 61 | Malta | 4 | 2012 | down 20.0% | volatile |
| 61 | Egypt | 4 | 2003 | up 100.0% | volatile |
| 61 | Burundi | 4 | 2001 | — | volatile |
| 61 | Trinidad and Tobago | 4 | 2010 | — | volatile |
| 61 | Dominica | 4 | 1997 | up 33.3% | volatile |
| 68 | Isle of Man | 3 | 2014 | up 200.0% | volatile |
| 68 | Philippines | 3 | 2023 | unchanged | volatile |
| 68 | Central African Republic | 3 | 2008 | up 50.0% | volatile |
| 68 | Niger | 3 | 1991 | down 50.0% | volatile |
| 68 | Bermuda | 3 | 1997 | up 50.0% | volatile |
| 68 | Uganda | 3 | 2004 | down 40.0% | falling |
| 68 | Colombia | 3 | 2008 | down 98.1% | volatile |
| 68 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 3 | 2000 | up 200.0% | volatile |
| 68 | Aruba | 3 | 2007 | down 66.7% | volatile |
| 77 | Thailand | 2 | 2020 | down 60.0% | volatile |
| 77 | Czechia | 2 | 2017 | — | volatile |
| 77 | Puerto Rico | 2 | 2008 | down 71.4% | volatile |
| 77 | Panama | 2 | 2024 | unchanged | volatile |
| 77 | Lithuania | 2 | 2023 | down 99.0% | volatile |
| 82 | Estonia | 1 | 2018 | unchanged | volatile |
| 82 | San Marino | 1 | 2010 | down 66.7% | volatile |
| 82 | Slovakia | 1 | 2024 | unchanged | volatile |
| 82 | Botswana | 1 | 2008 | down 96.7% | volatile |
| 82 | Nicaragua | 1 | 2004 | down 97.6% | volatile |
| 82 | Mauritius | 1 | 2024 | down 91.7% | volatile |
| 82 | Iceland | 1 | 2004 | down 90.9% | volatile |
| 89 | Belarus | 0 | 2004 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 89 | Russian Federation | 0 | 2024 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 89 | Anguilla | 0 | 1997 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 89 | Costa Rica | 0 | 2020 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 89 | Antigua and Barbuda | 0 | 2024 | — | volatile |
| 89 | Bahamas | 0 | 1992 | — | volatile |
| 89 | Austria | 0 | 2017 | — | volatile |
| 89 | Dominican Republic | 0 | 2008 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 89 | Latvia | 0 | 2024 | — | volatile |
| 89 | Malaysia | 0 | 2022 | — | volatile |
About this data
A strike is a temporary work stoppage carried out by one or more groups of workers with a view to enforcing or resisting demands or expressing grievances, or supporting other workers in their demands or grievances. A lockout is a total or partial temporary closure of one or more places of employment, or the hindering of the normal work activities of employees, by one or more employers with a view to enforcing or resisting demands or expressing grievances, or supporting other employers in their demands or grievances. 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 Industrial Relations data (IRdata) database description.