Employment in industry — all countries

Employment in industry — Western Africa

Employment in industry in Western Africa in 2025 — 16%. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 5.5 pp.

2025 16% +0.2 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 16%2025
Period minimum 10.3%1995

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Employment in industry — Western Africa, 1991–2025101214161819911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 10.5%1992: 10.5%1993: 10.4%1994: 10.3%1995: 10.3%1996: 10.3%1997: 10.4%1998: 10.4%1999: 10.4%2000: 10.4%2001: 10.5%2002: 10.7%2003: 10.8%2004: 11%2005: 11.1%2006: 11.2%2007: 11.3%2008: 11.4%2009: 11.6%2010: 11.9%2011: 12.1%2012: 12.7%2013: 13.3%2014: 13.4%2015: 13.2%2016: 12.9%2017: 13.2%2018: 13.3%2019: 13.4%2020: 14.1%2021: 14.7%2022: 15.8%2023: 15.8%2024: 15.8%2025: 16%
Change over the period: +5.5 pp Annual average: 0.16 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Western Africa

Western Africa 16%
World 23.7%
Employment in industry — Western Africa, by year Western Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 16 +0.2 pp
2024 15.8 +0 pp
2023 15.8 +0 pp
2022 15.8 +1 pp
2021 14.7 +0.6 pp
2020 14.1 +0.7 pp
2019 13.4 +0.2 pp
2018 13.3 +0.1 pp
2017 13.2 +0.2 pp
2016 12.9 −0.3 pp
2015 13.2 −0.1 pp
2014 13.4 +0.1 pp
2013 13.3 +0.6 pp
2012 12.7 +0.5 pp
2011 12.1 +0.3 pp
2010 11.9 +0.3 pp
2009 11.6 +0.2 pp
2008 11.4 +0.1 pp
2007 11.3 +0.1 pp
2006 11.2 +0.1 pp
2005 11.1 +0.1 pp
2004 11 +0.2 pp
2003 10.8 +0.1 pp
2002 10.7 +0.2 pp
2001 10.5 +0 pp
2000 10.4 +0.1 pp
1999 10.4 −0 pp
1998 10.4 +0 pp
1997 10.4 +0 pp
1996 10.3 +0.1 pp
1995 10.3 −0 pp
1994 10.3 −0.1 pp
1993 10.4 −0.1 pp
1992 10.5 +0 pp
1991 10.5

About the indicator

The share of total employment in industry (mining, manufacturing, electricity, water supply) and in construction. The peak is in countries in the middle of the industrial transition; in postindustrial economies the share declines even as industrial output grows, because of automation.

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