Working-age population (Organisation) in Canada
Canada: Working-age population was 34,569 Persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Working-age population in Canada, 1976–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
Canada recorded 34,569 Persons for working-age population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
The figure is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 18.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, working-age population in Canada peaked at 34,569 Persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 17,058 Persons, in 1976.
That places Canada 12th out of 33 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 50 years of available data.
Working-age population in Canada, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 17,058 Persons | — |
| 1977 | 17,436 Persons | +2.2% |
| 1978 | 17,779 Persons | +2.0% |
| 1979 | 18,119 Persons | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 18,484 Persons | +2.0% |
| 1981 | 18,814 Persons | +1.8% |
| 1982 | 19,103 Persons | +1.5% |
| 1983 | 19,355 Persons | +1.3% |
| 1984 | 19,598 Persons | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 19,843 Persons | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 20,093 Persons | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 20,348 Persons | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 20,612 Persons | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 20,898 Persons | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 21,215 Persons | +1.5% |
| 1991 | 21,533 Persons | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 21,820 Persons | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 22,093 Persons | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 22,368 Persons | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 22,660 Persons | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 22,960 Persons | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 23,247 Persons | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 23,516 Persons | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 23,782 Persons | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 24,090 Persons | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 24,419 Persons | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 24,769 Persons | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 25,080 Persons | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 25,408 Persons | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 25,755 Persons | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 26,122 Persons | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 26,469 Persons | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 26,831 Persons | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 27,207 Persons | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 27,576 Persons | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 27,903 Persons | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 28,228 Persons | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 28,542 Persons | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 28,832 Persons | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 29,066 Persons | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 29,383 Persons | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 29,761 Persons | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 30,205 Persons | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 30,634 Persons | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 31,075 Persons | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 31,330 Persons | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 31,821 Persons | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 32,670 Persons | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 33,819 Persons | +3.5% |
| 2025 | 34,569 Persons | +2.2% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 34,569 Persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 8,857 Persons, 3.9× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 17,598 Persons | 17,058 Persons | 18,119 Persons | 4 |
| 1980s | 19,715 Persons | 18,484 Persons | 20,898 Persons | 10 |
| 1990s | 22,519 Persons | 21,215 Persons | 23,782 Persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 25,615 Persons | 24,090 Persons | 27,207 Persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 29,013 Persons | 27,576 Persons | 30,634 Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 32,547 Persons | 31,075 Persons | 34,569 Persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More population data for Canada
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 45,891 Persons (2050)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2634 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.3281 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.13 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.3281 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.3% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.33 million people (2100)
- Population density 6.1 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.3% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.3863 % change on previous year (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is working-age population in Canada?
- Working-age population in Canada was 34,569 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest working-age population recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 34,569 Persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest working-age population recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 17,058 Persons in 1976.
- How does Canada rank for working-age population?
- Canada ranks 12th out of 33 countries with data for 2025.
- Is working-age population rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Working-age population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The infra-annual dataflow on working age population is a subset of the infra-annual labour statistics database, which contains predominantly monthly and quarterly statistics on the working age population by age groups (15+, 15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 15-64 and 15-74 where available) and sex and associated statistical methodological information, for the OECD member countries and selected other economies. The working-age population is commonly defined as persons aged 15 years and older. The infra-annual labour statistics compiled for all OECD member countries, are drawn from Labour Force Surveys based on definition provided by the 19th Conference of Labour Statisticians in 2013. The uniform application of these definitions across all OECD member countries results in estimates that are internationally comparable.