Labor force participation rate — all countries

Labor force participation rate — Sub-Saharan Africa

Labor force participation rate in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2025 — 70.32%. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 2.77 pp.

2025 70.32% −0.04 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 73.73%1995
Period minimum 67.87%2020

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Labor force participation rate — Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–2025666870727419901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 73.08%1991: 73.23%1992: 73.4%1993: 73.48%1994: 73.63%1995: 73.73%1996: 73.7%1997: 73.65%1998: 73.58%1999: 73.53%2000: 73.45%2001: 73.38%2002: 73.32%2003: 73.25%2004: 73.18%2005: 73.1%2006: 72.95%2007: 72.76%2008: 72.53%2009: 72.19%2010: 71.84%2011: 71.87%2012: 71.32%2013: 71.61%2014: 70.95%2015: 70.63%2016: 70.3%2017: 69.74%2018: 69.39%2019: 69.06%2020: 67.87%2021: 68.13%2022: 68.62%2023: 70.38%2024: 70.36%2025: 70.32%
Change over the period: −2.77 pp Annual average: -0.08 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Sub-Saharan Africa 70.32%
World 60.98%
Labor force participation rate — Sub-Saharan Africa, by year Sub-Saharan Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 70.32 −0.04 pp
2024 70.36 −0.02 pp
2023 70.38 +1.76 pp
2022 68.62 +0.49 pp
2021 68.13 +0.26 pp
2020 67.87 −1.19 pp
2019 69.06 −0.33 pp
2018 69.39 −0.35 pp
2017 69.74 −0.56 pp
2016 70.3 −0.33 pp
2015 70.63 −0.32 pp
2014 70.95 −0.66 pp
2013 71.61 +0.29 pp
2012 71.32 −0.55 pp
2011 71.87 +0.04 pp
2010 71.84 −0.36 pp
2009 72.19 −0.33 pp
2008 72.53 −0.23 pp
2007 72.76 −0.19 pp
2006 72.95 −0.15 pp
2005 73.1 −0.08 pp
2004 73.18 −0.07 pp
2003 73.25 −0.07 pp
2002 73.32 −0.06 pp
2001 73.38 −0.07 pp
2000 73.45 −0.08 pp
1999 73.53 −0.06 pp
1998 73.58 −0.06 pp
1997 73.65 −0.05 pp
1996 73.7 −0.03 pp
1995 73.73 +0.1 pp
1994 73.63 +0.15 pp
1993 73.48 +0.07 pp
1992 73.4 +0.17 pp
1991 73.23 +0.15 pp
1990 73.08

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.