Labor force, total in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Labor force, total was 7.60 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Labor force, total in United Arab Emirates, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force, total in United Arab Emirates is 7.60 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 5.1% on the previous year and up 37.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in United Arab Emirates peaked at 7.60 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 993,900, in 1990.
United Arab Emirates ranks 69th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.38 million | 993,900 | 1.90 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.01 million | 2.06 million | 4.27 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.36 million | 4.38 million | 6.26 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.76 million | 6.16 million | 7.60 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More education data for United Arab Emirates
- Lower secondary school starting age 10 years (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 82.2% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 16.0% (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 108.0% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 39,735 (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 107.5% (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, male 108.6% (2024)
- Labor force, female 22.7% (2025)
- School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index 1.01 GPI (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in United Arab Emirates?
- Labor force, total in United Arab Emirates was 7.60 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 7.60 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 993,900 in 1990.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for labor force, total?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 69th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.