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Labor force participation rate — all countries

Labor force participation rate — Sierra Leone

Labor force participation rate in Sierra Leone in 2025 — 53.37%. Ranked 144 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 10.98 pp.

2025 53.37% −0.21 pp vs 2024
World rank 144of 182
Period maximum 66.11%2004
Period minimum 53.3%2020

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Labor force participation rate — Sierra Leone, 1990–2025505560657019901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 64.35%1991: 64.37%1992: 64.4%1993: 64.42%1994: 64.45%1995: 64.48%1996: 64.51%1997: 64.53%1998: 64.56%1999: 64.59%2000: 64.62%2001: 64.63%2002: 64.64%2003: 64.64%2004: 66.11%2005: 65.23%2006: 64.35%2007: 63.45%2008: 62.55%2009: 61.63%2010: 60.71%2011: 59.78%2012: 58.84%2013: 57.9%2014: 56.95%2015: 56.19%2016: 55.44%2017: 54.68%2018: 53.91%2019: 53.81%2020: 53.3%2021: 53.61%2022: 53.67%2023: 53.63%2024: 53.58%2025: 53.37%
Change over the period: −10.98 pp Annual average: -0.31 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Sierra Leone 53.37%
World 60.98%
Sub-Saharan Africa 70.32%
Western Africa computed 73.68%
Low-income countries computed 64.2%
Labor force participation rate — Sierra Leone, by year Sierra Leone All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 53.37 −0.21 pp
2024 53.58 −0.05 pp
2023 53.63 −0.03 pp
2022 53.67 +0.05 pp
2021 53.61 +0.31 pp
2020 53.3 −0.51 pp
2019 53.81 −0.1 pp
2018 53.91 −0.76 pp
2017 54.68 −0.76 pp
2016 55.44 −0.76 pp
2015 56.19 −0.76 pp
2014 56.95 −0.95 pp
2013 57.9 −0.94 pp
2012 58.84 −0.94 pp
2011 59.78 −0.93 pp
2010 60.71 −0.92 pp
2009 61.63 −0.91 pp
2008 62.55 −0.91 pp
2007 63.45 −0.9 pp
2006 64.35 −0.89 pp
2005 65.23 −0.88 pp
2004 66.11 +1.47 pp
2003 64.64 +0 pp
2002 64.64 +0.01 pp
2001 64.63 +0.01 pp
2000 64.62 +0.03 pp
1999 64.59 +0.03 pp
1998 64.56 +0.03 pp
1997 64.53 +0.03 pp
1996 64.51 +0.03 pp
1995 64.48 +0.03 pp
1994 64.45 +0.03 pp
1993 64.42 +0.03 pp
1992 64.4 +0.03 pp
1991 64.37 +0.02 pp
1990 64.35 —

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 Sierra Leone

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.

Sierra Leone by year Labor Labor force

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

Sierra Leone by year Labor Employment-to-population ratio

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

Sierra Leone by year Demography Age dependency ratio

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

Sierra Leone by year
All indicators for Sierra Leone