Top 5 Largest Pharma and Healthcare Companies in 2025 By Number of Employees
As the global pharmaceutical industry continues to evolve, workforce size remains a powerful indicator of operational scale, global reach and breadth of services.
In 2025, the largest pharma and healthcare employers span continents and sectors — from traditional drug manufacturing and biotech innovation to retail pharmacy and clinical services.
1. CVS Health (>300,000 employees)CVS Health is the top employer in the pharma‑adjacent space, with more than 300,000 employees as of 2025. Beyond its well-known pharmacy chain, the company operates MinuteClinic health clinics, the Caremark PBM and the Aetna insurance division. In 2024, CVS generated , up 4.2% compared to the previous year. Its fourth quarter revenues also increased 4.2% from the year prior to $97.7 billion. CVS alone owns Aetna, making it one of the most vertically integrated healthcare companies in the US.
2. Walgreens Boots Alliance (~311,000 employees)Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) employs approximately 311,000 people, serving markets across the US, UK and beyond. The company is restructuring following a $10 billion acquisition by Sycamore Partners announced in early 2025, which includes the potential divestiture of the Boots division, impacting tens of thousands of employees. The total value of the acquisition is $23.7 billion, including payouts and debts. WBA is transitioning to support digital pharmacy infrastructure and clinical services.
3. Johnson & Johnson (~138,000 employees)J&J’s headcount stands at around 138,000 as of 2025, following a reduction from over 152,000 in 2023 due to restructuring tied to its consumer healthcare spinoff Kenvue. The company continues to invest in pharmaceuticals, particularly in oncology and immunology, and medical devices. In 2024, the company reported $88.8 billion in revenue, representing a 4.3% increase, with Q4 sales up 5.3% from the same quarter in the previous year to $22.5 billion.
4. Sinopharm (~115,959 employees)Sinopharm, China’s state-owned pharmaceutical giant, employs roughly 120,000 people. Covering drug production, vaccine R&D, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and distribution, Sinopharm was instrumental in China’s COVID-19 response. The company continues expanding globally, especially in emerging markets. Sinopharm Holding ranked 24th on the 2022 Fortune China 500 list and held the top spot among pharmaceutical companies in China. That same year, the company’s Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) rating was upgraded to “A,” and it was recognized as one of the top 50 centrally state-controlled listed companies for ESG governance. Additionally, Sinopharm ranked 28th among the top 100 most valuable Chinese brands among publicly listed pharmaceutical firms in China.
5. AstraZeneca (~94,300 employees)AstraZeneca grew its workforce to around 94,300 as of the end of 2024, reflecting its expansion in oncology, rare diseases and respiratory therapeutics. Strategic acquisitions — such as Alexion, Amolyt and Fusion — have expanded its research pipeline and extended its footprint in biologics. It also announced an ambitious goal of reaching $80 billion in total revenue by 2030. The company is expecting to launch 20 new drugs by 2030 to help meet this goal. It also announced major investments, including a $570 million expansion of its Canadian footprint.
- 19 December, 13:00
-
Read more
