Employment-to-population ratio — all countries

Employment-to-population ratio — Sub-Saharan Africa

Employment-to-population ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2025 — 66.33%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 2.18 pp.

2025 66.33% −0.03 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 69.07%1996
Period minimum 63.35%2020

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Employment-to-population ratio — Sub-Saharan Africa, 1991–2025626466687019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 68.51%1992: 68.61%1993: 68.64%1994: 68.83%1995: 69.04%1996: 69.07%1997: 69.05%1998: 68.97%1999: 68.84%2000: 68.78%2001: 68.78%2002: 68.8%2003: 68.79%2004: 68.83%2005: 68.83%2006: 68.75%2007: 68.6%2008: 68.38%2009: 68.03%2010: 67.57%2011: 67.62%2012: 67.18%2013: 67.62%2014: 66.96%2015: 66.54%2016: 66.18%2017: 65.56%2018: 65.2%2019: 64.79%2020: 63.35%2021: 63.46%2022: 64.45%2023: 66.32%2024: 66.37%2025: 66.33%
Change over the period: −2.18 pp Annual average: -0.06 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa 66.33%
World 58.06%
Employment-to-population ratio — Sub-Saharan Africa, by year Sub-Saharan Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 66.33 −0.03 pp
2024 66.37 +0.04 pp
2023 66.32 +1.88 pp
2022 64.45 +0.99 pp
2021 63.46 +0.11 pp
2020 63.35 −1.43 pp
2019 64.79 −0.42 pp
2018 65.2 −0.36 pp
2017 65.56 −0.62 pp
2016 66.18 −0.36 pp
2015 66.54 −0.42 pp
2014 66.96 −0.66 pp
2013 67.62 +0.44 pp
2012 67.18 −0.44 pp
2011 67.62 +0.05 pp
2010 67.57 −0.46 pp
2009 68.03 −0.35 pp
2008 68.38 −0.22 pp
2007 68.6 −0.14 pp
2006 68.75 −0.08 pp
2005 68.83 −0 pp
2004 68.83 +0.04 pp
2003 68.79 −0.01 pp
2002 68.8 +0.02 pp
2001 68.78 −0 pp
2000 68.78 −0.06 pp
1999 68.84 −0.13 pp
1998 68.97 −0.08 pp
1997 69.05 −0.01 pp
1996 69.07 +0.03 pp
1995 69.04 +0.2 pp
1994 68.83 +0.19 pp
1993 68.64 +0.03 pp
1992 68.61 +0.09 pp
1991 68.51

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.