Working-age population (International Labour) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Working-age population (International Labour) was 57,091 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Working-age population in United Kingdom, 2005–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for working-age population in United Kingdom is 57,091, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 8.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, working-age population in United Kingdom peaked at 57,091 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 48,743, in 2005.
United Kingdom ranks 4th of 57 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Working-age population (International Labour) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 48,743 | — |
| 2006 | 49,212 | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 49,702 | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 50,118 | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 50,517 | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 50,958 | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 51,390 | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 51,737 | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 51,169 | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 51,621 | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 52,744 | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 53,144 | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 53,459 | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 53,758 | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 54,047 | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 54,366 | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 54,359 | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 54,631 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 55,279 | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 56,268 | +1.8% |
| 2025 | 57,091 | +1.5% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 57,091 is above the median for high income countries, which is 7,398, 7.7× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 57,091 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5,549, 10.3× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 49,658 | 48,743 | 50,517 | 5 |
| 2010s | 52,403 | 50,958 | 54,047 | 10 |
| 2020s | 55,332 | 54,359 | 57,091 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More work & labour data for United Kingdom
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 22,956 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 60.91 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 35,770 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 4.93 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.07 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 111,361 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 100,223 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 57.91 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.47 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.4352 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is working-age population in United Kingdom?
- Working-age population in United Kingdom was 57,091 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest working-age population recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 57,091 in 2025.
- What is the lowest working-age population recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 48,743 in 2005.
- How does United Kingdom rank for working-age population?
- United Kingdom ranks 4th out of 57 countries with data for 2025.
- Is working-age population rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Working-age population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. The working-age population is commonly defined as persons aged 15 years and older, but this varies from country to country. The term disability, as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), is used as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. For measurement purposes, a person with disability is defined as a person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem. For more information, refer to the Disability Labour Market Indicators (DLMI) database description.