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Employment-to-population ratio — all countries

Employment-to-population ratio — Nigeria

Employment-to-population ratio in Nigeria in 2025 — 79.99%. Ranked 6 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 0.75 pp.

2025 79.99% −0.06 pp vs 2024
World rank 6of 182
Period maximum 80.6%1995
Period minimum 74.78%2020

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Employment-to-population ratio — Nigeria, 1991–2025747678808219911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 79.24%1992: 79.87%1993: 80.06%1994: 80.55%1995: 80.6%1996: 80.5%1997: 80.48%1998: 80.39%1999: 80.27%2000: 80.08%2001: 79.94%2002: 79.9%2003: 79.67%2004: 79.48%2005: 79.11%2006: 78.89%2007: 78.69%2008: 78.51%2009: 78.45%2010: 78.24%2011: 78.06%2012: 78.01%2013: 77.84%2014: 77.62%2015: 77.45%2016: 77.21%2017: 76.98%2018: 76.85%2019: 76.79%2020: 74.78%2021: 75.81%2022: 78.16%2023: 80.02%2024: 80.05%2025: 79.99%
Change over the period: +0.75 pp Annual average: 0.02 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Nigeria 79.99%
World 58.06%
Sub-Saharan Africa 66.33%
Western Africa computed 71.55%
Lower-middle-income countries computed 56.17%
Employment-to-population ratio — Nigeria, by year Nigeria All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 79.99 −0.06 pp
2024 80.05 +0.03 pp
2023 80.02 +1.86 pp
2022 78.16 +2.35 pp
2021 75.81 +1.03 pp
2020 74.78 −2 pp
2019 76.79 −0.07 pp
2018 76.85 −0.13 pp
2017 76.98 −0.22 pp
2016 77.21 −0.25 pp
2015 77.45 −0.16 pp
2014 77.62 −0.23 pp
2013 77.84 −0.16 pp
2012 78.01 −0.05 pp
2011 78.06 −0.18 pp
2010 78.24 −0.21 pp
2009 78.45 −0.06 pp
2008 78.51 −0.18 pp
2007 78.69 −0.2 pp
2006 78.89 −0.22 pp
2005 79.11 −0.37 pp
2004 79.48 −0.19 pp
2003 79.67 −0.23 pp
2002 79.9 −0.04 pp
2001 79.94 −0.14 pp
2000 80.08 −0.2 pp
1999 80.27 −0.12 pp
1998 80.39 −0.09 pp
1997 80.48 −0.02 pp
1996 80.5 −0.1 pp
1995 80.6 +0.06 pp
1994 80.55 +0.49 pp
1993 80.06 +0.19 pp
1992 79.87 +0.64 pp
1991 79.24 —

Western Africa, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

NG Nigeria 79.99 NE Niger 79.43 BJ Benin 75.14 LR Liberia 74.37 BF Burkina Faso 67.57 CI Côte d'Ivoire 65.53 ML Mali 65.14 GW Guinea-Bissau 63.08 GH Ghana 56.78 TG Togo 56.69 SL Sierra Leone 51.69 SN Senegal 50.6 CV Cabo Verde 50.22 GN Guinea 49.89 GM Gambia 44.36 MR Mauritania 36.56
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The ratio of the employed to the population aged 15 and over. Unlike the unemployment rate it does not depend on whether a person is looking for work, so it captures the actual involvement of the population in the economy better. Employment and unemployment together give the full picture: low unemployment alongside low employment means mass withdrawal from the labor force.

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

Other indicators for Nigeria

Labor Labor productivity

How much output one employed person creates in a year — in constant PPP dollars.

Nigeria by year Labor Unemployment rate

The share of the labor force that is looking for work and available to start.

Nigeria by year Labor Labor force participation rate

What share of the population aged 15 and over works or looks for work.

Nigeria by year Labor Self-employed

The share of workers who work for themselves — from entrepreneurs to the informally employed.

Nigeria by year
All indicators for Nigeria