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Labor force participation rate — all countries

Labor force participation rate — Nigeria

Labor force participation rate in Nigeria in 2025 — 82.52%. Ranked 5 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 0.73 pp.

2025 82.52% −0.05 pp vs 2024
World rank 5of 182
Period maximum 84.1%1995
Period minimum 79.31%2020

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Labor force participation rate — Nigeria, 1990–2025788082848619901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 81.79%1991: 82.39%1992: 83.02%1993: 83.42%1994: 83.96%1995: 84.1%1996: 83.89%1997: 83.8%1998: 83.67%1999: 83.6%2000: 83.37%2001: 83.18%2002: 82.94%2003: 82.67%2004: 82.44%2005: 82.17%2006: 81.96%2007: 81.8%2008: 81.61%2009: 81.52%2010: 81.28%2011: 81.12%2012: 81.06%2013: 80.84%2014: 80.77%2015: 80.79%2016: 80.84%2017: 80.89%2018: 80.96%2019: 81%2020: 79.31%2021: 80.14%2022: 81.27%2023: 82.56%2024: 82.57%2025: 82.52%
Change over the period: +0.73 pp Annual average: 0.02 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Nigeria 82.52%
World 60.98%
Sub-Saharan Africa 70.32%
Western Africa computed 73.68%
Lower-middle-income countries computed 58.73%
Labor force participation rate — Nigeria, by year Nigeria All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 82.52 −0.05 pp
2024 82.57 +0.01 pp
2023 82.56 +1.29 pp
2022 81.27 +1.13 pp
2021 80.14 +0.83 pp
2020 79.31 −1.69 pp
2019 81 +0.05 pp
2018 80.96 +0.06 pp
2017 80.89 +0.05 pp
2016 80.84 +0.05 pp
2015 80.79 +0.03 pp
2014 80.77 −0.08 pp
2013 80.84 −0.21 pp
2012 81.06 −0.06 pp
2011 81.12 −0.16 pp
2010 81.28 −0.23 pp
2009 81.52 −0.09 pp
2008 81.61 −0.19 pp
2007 81.8 −0.17 pp
2006 81.96 −0.21 pp
2005 82.17 −0.26 pp
2004 82.44 −0.24 pp
2003 82.67 −0.27 pp
2002 82.94 −0.24 pp
2001 83.18 −0.19 pp
2000 83.37 −0.23 pp
1999 83.6 −0.07 pp
1998 83.67 −0.13 pp
1997 83.8 −0.09 pp
1996 83.89 −0.2 pp
1995 84.1 +0.14 pp
1994 83.96 +0.54 pp
1993 83.42 +0.4 pp
1992 83.02 +0.63 pp
1991 82.39 +0.6 pp
1990 81.79 —

Western Africa, 2025

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

NG Nigeria 82.52 NE Niger 79.74 LR Liberia 76.58 BJ Benin 76.36 BF Burkina Faso 70.01 CI Côte d'Ivoire 67.09 ML Mali 67.04 GW Guinea-Bissau 64.81 GH Ghana 58.52 TG Togo 57.85 CV Cabo Verde 57.03 SL Sierra Leone 53.37 GN Guinea 52.61 SN Senegal 52.02 GM Gambia 47.46 MR Mauritania 40.77
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The share of the population aged 15 and over that belongs to the labor force. It shows how fully a country uses its labor potential. The decline in advanced countries comes from an aging population and longer years of schooling, while low values in developing ones usually come from limited participation by women.

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

Other indicators for Nigeria

Labor Female labor force participation rate

The share of women aged 15 and over who work or look for work — the main indicator of access to employment.

Nigeria by year Labor Labor force

The number of people employed or actively looking for work — the economically active population.

Nigeria by year Labor Employment-to-population ratio

The share of the population aged 15 and over that actually works.

Nigeria by year Demography Age dependency ratio

How many dependents — children and older people — there are per 100 people of working age.

Nigeria by year
All indicators for Nigeria