Nigeria vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)
Nigeria
82.5%
in 2025
Sub-Saharan Africa
70.3%
in 2025
Nigeria rank
5th
Sub-Saharan Africa rank
2nd
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) over time
- Nigeria
- Sub-Saharan Africa
How they compare
Nigeria currently reports 82.5% against 70.3% in Sub-Saharan Africa, a difference of 12.2%.
That makes Nigeria's figure about 1.2 times Sub-Saharan Africa's.
Across all 36 years both countries report, Nigeria has been ahead every year.
Nigeria ranks 5th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd of 187 countries.
Nigeria has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Nigeria | Sub-Saharan Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 83.4% | 73.5% | 9.9% | Nigeria |
| 2000s | 82.4% | 73.0% | 9.4% | Nigeria |
| 2010s | 81.0% | 70.7% | 10.3% | Nigeria |
| 2020s | 81.4% | 69.3% | 12.1% | Nigeria |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+), Nigeria or Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Nigeria, at 82.5% against 70.3% in Sub-Saharan Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) between Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa?
- 12.2%, with Nigeria ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa?
- 36 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2025.
- How do Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa rank globally for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Nigeria ranks 5th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd 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+) (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 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.