Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in South America

South America: Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) was 129,460 in 2027. ▲ Rising

Latest (2027)
129,460
Change on year
up 1.3%
Rank
41st
of 87 groups
All-time high
130,534
in 2020
All-time low
70,304
in 1990
Years of data
38
1990–2027

Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in South America, 1990–2027

050.0k100.0k150.0k1990200820271990: 70.3k1991: 71.6k1992: 72.7k1993: 73.7k1994: 74.7k1995: 75.8k1996: 79.0k1997: 79.3k1998: 80.5k1999: 81.9k2000: 84.0k2001: 85.1k2002: 86.3k2003: 87.5k2004: 87.7k2005: 88.7k2006: 90.0k2007: 92.2k2008: 93.9k2009: 94.4k2010: 97.7k2011: 100.9k2012: 103.0k2013: 105.4k2014: 107.9k2015: 109.2k2016: 110.9k2017: 111.8k2018: 113.4k2019: 114.6k2020: 130.5k2021: 124.2k2022: 122.0k2023: 124.0k2024: 124.6k2025: 126.2k2026: 127.8k2027: 129.5k

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

In 2027, persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in South America stood at 129,460.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 15.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in South America peaked at 130,534 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 70,304, in 1990.

South America ranks 41st of 87 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in South America, year by year

Annual values for Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in South America, 1990 to 2027.
Year Value Change
1990 70,304 —
1991 71,559 +1.8%
1992 72,662 +1.5%
1993 73,687 +1.4%
1994 74,737 +1.4%
1995 75,806 +1.4%
1996 79,035 +4.3%
1997 79,293 +0.3%
1998 80,541 +1.6%
1999 81,890 +1.7%
2000 84,016 +2.6%
2001 85,128 +1.3%
2002 86,332 +1.4%
2003 87,514 +1.4%
2004 87,742 +0.3%
2005 88,699 +1.1%
2006 90,026 +1.5%
2007 92,214 +2.4%
2008 93,944 +1.9%
2009 94,403 +0.5%
2010 97,743 +3.5%
2011 100,904 +3.2%
2012 103,021 +2.1%
2013 105,435 +2.3%
2014 107,943 +2.4%
2015 109,209 +1.2%
2016 110,893 +1.5%
2017 111,812 +0.8%
2018 113,374 +1.4%
2019 114,560 +1.0%
2020 130,534 +13.9%
2021 124,164 -4.9%
2022 122,037 -1.7%
2023 124,046 +1.6%
2024 124,551 +0.4%
2025 126,181 +1.3%
2026 127,824 +1.3%
2027 129,460 +1.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 75,951 70,304 81,890 10
2000s 89,002 84,016 94,403 10
2010s 107,489 97,743 114,560 10
2020s 126,100 122,037 130,534 8

Countries ranked near South America

  1. 38 Nepal 13,159 compare
  2. 39 Kenya 12,640 compare
  3. 40 Canada 12,516 compare
  4. 41 Syria 12,499 compare
  5. 42 Uzbekistan 11,288 compare
  6. 43 Venezuela 10,601 compare
  7. 44 Ghana 10,046 compare

See the full ranking of 276 places →

More work & labour data for South America

All data for South America →

Frequently asked questions

What is persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in South America?
Persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in South America was 129,460 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in South America?
The highest recorded value was 130,534 in 2020.
What is the lowest persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in South America?
The lowest recorded value was 70,304 in 1990.
How does South America rank for persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates)?
South America ranks 41st out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
Is persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in South America?
Over the last ten years it is up 15.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South America data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in South America. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 26 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/persons-outside-the-labour-force-ilo-modelled-estimates-15/south-america/

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About this data

Indicator
Persons outside the 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. Persons outside the labour force comprise all persons of working age who, during the specified reference period, were not in the labour force (that is, were not employed or unemployed). For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.