Population by labor force status in United States
United States: Population by labor force status was 59.38 million people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Population by labor force status in United States, 1991–2025
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population by labor force status in United States is 59.38 million people, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by labor force status in United States peaked at 62.95 million people in 2018 and was at its lowest, 55.68 million people, in 1991.
That places United States 6th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 58.05 million people | 55.68 million people | 59.35 million people | 9 |
| 2000s | 60.21 million people | 59.57 million people | 61.01 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 62.33 million people | 61.28 million people | 62.95 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.81 million people | 59.38 million people | 62.43 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More work & labour data for United States
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 61.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 67.1% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 84.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 56.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 73.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 69.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population by labor force status in United States?
- Population by labor force status in United States was 59.38 million people in 2025, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by labor force status recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 62.95 million people in 2018.
- What is the lowest population by labor force status recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 55.68 million people in 1991.
- How does United States rank for population by labor force status?
- United States ranks 6th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population by labor force status rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by labor force status. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population below working age (under 15 years old).