Labor force — all countries

Labor force — South America

Labor force in South America in 2025 — 220,402,352 people. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 82.7%.

2025 220M people +0.86% vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 220M people2025
Period minimum 121M people1990

Trend over time

1990–2025 · people

Labor force — South America, 1990–2025100M125M150M175M200M225M19901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 120,611,828 people1991: 123,919,179 people1992: 127,478,523 people1993: 131,214,135 people1994: 134,978,366 people1995: 138,817,026 people1996: 140,561,531 people1997: 145,341,710 people1998: 149,218,631 people1999: 153,006,463 people2000: 155,934,341 people2001: 159,812,994 people2002: 163,559,133 people2003: 167,285,859 people2004: 171,923,303 people2005: 175,779,732 people2006: 179,217,672 people2007: 181,728,835 people2008: 184,624,867 people2009: 188,725,440 people2010: 189,886,736 people2011: 191,202,308 people2012: 193,566,700 people2013: 195,646,450 people2014: 197,612,834 people2015: 200,756,761 people2016: 203,422,659 people2017: 206,733,584 people2018: 209,140,172 people2019: 211,716,268 people2020: 199,243,755 people2021: 208,682,357 people2022: 213,935,961 people2023: 215,437,371 people2024: 218,520,005 people2025: 220,402,352 people
Change over the period: +99.79M (+82.74%) Average annual rate: 1.74 %

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South America

South America 220M people
World 3.74B people
Labor force — South America, by year South America All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2025 220M +1.88M +0.86%
2024 219M +3.08M +1.43%
2023 215M +1.5M +0.7%
2022 214M +5.25M +2.52%
2021 209M +9.44M +4.74%
2020 199M −12.47M −5.89%
2019 212M +2.58M +1.23%
2018 209M +2.41M +1.16%
2017 207M +3.31M +1.63%
2016 203M +2.67M +1.33%
2015 201M +3.14M +1.59%
2014 198M +1.97M +1.01%
2013 196M +2.08M +1.07%
2012 194M +2.36M +1.24%
2011 191M +1.32M +0.69%
2010 190M +1.16M +0.62%
2009 189M +4.1M +2.22%
2008 185M +2.9M +1.59%
2007 182M +2.51M +1.4%
2006 179M +3.44M +1.96%
2005 176M +3.86M +2.24%
2004 172M +4.64M +2.77%
2003 167M +3.73M +2.28%
2002 164M +3.75M +2.34%
2001 160M +3.88M +2.49%
2000 156M +2.93M +1.91%
1999 153M +3.79M +2.54%
1998 149M +3.88M +2.67%
1997 145M +4.78M +3.4%
1996 141M +1.74M +1.26%
1995 139M +3.84M +2.84%
1994 135M +3.76M +2.87%
1993 131M +3.74M +2.93%
1992 127M +3.56M +2.87%
1991 124M +3.31M +2.74%
1990 121M

About the indicator

The economically active population — everyone aged 15 and over who either works or actively looks for work. It covers the employed, the unemployed and first-time job seekers; it leaves out students, homemakers and other people who do not offer their labor on the market. The size of the labor force is the basic constraint on the growth potential of an economy.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.