Labor force participation rate — all countries

Labor force participation rate — Western Africa

Labor force participation rate in Western Africa in 2025 — 73.68%. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 1.95 pp.

2025 73.68% −0.07 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 76.7%1995
Period minimum 71.9%2020

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Labor force participation rate — Western Africa, 1990–2025707274767819901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 75.63%1991: 75.92%1992: 76.22%1993: 76.4%1994: 76.66%1995: 76.7%1996: 76.56%1997: 76.49%1998: 76.4%1999: 76.37%2000: 76.25%2001: 76.15%2002: 76.02%2003: 75.85%2004: 75.74%2005: 75.57%2006: 75.43%2007: 75.3%2008: 75.14%2009: 75.04%2010: 74.87%2011: 74.73%2012: 74.55%2013: 74.27%2014: 73.95%2015: 73.78%2016: 73.79%2017: 73.4%2018: 73.25%2019: 73.1%2020: 71.9%2021: 72.54%2022: 73.24%2023: 73.82%2024: 73.75%2025: 73.68%
Change over the period: −1.95 pp Annual average: -0.06 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Western Africa 73.68%
World 60.98%
Labor force participation rate — Western Africa, by year Western Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 73.68 −0.07 pp
2024 73.75 −0.07 pp
2023 73.82 +0.58 pp
2022 73.24 +0.7 pp
2021 72.54 +0.65 pp
2020 71.9 −1.2 pp
2019 73.1 −0.15 pp
2018 73.25 −0.15 pp
2017 73.4 −0.38 pp
2016 73.79 +0.01 pp
2015 73.78 −0.17 pp
2014 73.95 −0.32 pp
2013 74.27 −0.28 pp
2012 74.55 −0.17 pp
2011 74.73 −0.14 pp
2010 74.87 −0.17 pp
2009 75.04 −0.1 pp
2008 75.14 −0.15 pp
2007 75.3 −0.14 pp
2006 75.43 −0.14 pp
2005 75.57 −0.17 pp
2004 75.74 −0.11 pp
2003 75.85 −0.16 pp
2002 76.02 −0.13 pp
2001 76.15 −0.1 pp
2000 76.25 −0.12 pp
1999 76.37 −0.04 pp
1998 76.4 −0.09 pp
1997 76.49 −0.07 pp
1996 76.56 −0.14 pp
1995 76.7 +0.04 pp
1994 76.66 +0.26 pp
1993 76.4 +0.19 pp
1992 76.22 +0.3 pp
1991 75.92 +0.29 pp
1990 75.63

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.