New Zealand vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)
New Zealand
82.6%
in 2025
Sub-Saharan Africa
71.6%
in 2025
New Zealand rank
13th
Sub-Saharan Africa rank
14th
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) over time
- New Zealand
- Sub-Saharan Africa
How they compare
New Zealand currently reports 82.6% against 71.6% in Sub-Saharan Africa, a difference of 11.0%.
That makes New Zealand's figure about 1.2 times Sub-Saharan Africa's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 36 shared years of data; in 1990 it was Sub-Saharan Africa ahead.
New Zealand ranks 13th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 14th of 187 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, New Zealand averaged higher in 3 and Sub-Saharan Africa in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | New Zealand | Sub-Saharan Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 74.1% | 74.7% | 0.6% | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 2000s | 76.8% | 74.2% | 2.6% | New Zealand |
| 2010s | 79.1% | 71.9% | 7.2% | New Zealand |
| 2020s | 82.2% | 70.5% | 11.7% | New Zealand |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages), New Zealand or Sub-Saharan Africa?
- New Zealand, at 82.6% against 71.6% in Sub-Saharan Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) between New Zealand and Sub-Saharan Africa?
- 11.0%, with New Zealand ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for New Zealand and Sub-Saharan Africa?
- 36 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2025.
- How do New Zealand and Sub-Saharan Africa rank globally for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- New Zealand ranks 13th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 14th of 187 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.