Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa: Low income
Sub-Saharan Africa: Low income: Employment (ILO modelled estimates) was 224,417 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa: Low income, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa: Low income recorded 224,417 for employment (ilo modelled estimates) in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.3% on the previous year and up 33.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment (ilo modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa: Low income peaked at 224,417 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 84,911, in 1991.
Sub-Saharan Africa: Low income ranks 36th of 87 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa: Low income, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 84,911 | — |
| 1992 | 87,372 | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 89,724 | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 92,262 | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 95,206 | +3.2% |
| 1996 | 97,801 | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 100,304 | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 103,023 | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 106,003 | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 109,163 | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 112,601 | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 116,088 | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 119,752 | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 123,690 | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 127,732 | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 131,234 | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 134,852 | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 138,610 | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 142,378 | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 146,463 | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 152,127 | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 154,736 | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 162,125 | +4.8% |
| 2014 | 164,463 | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 167,878 | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 171,411 | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 174,985 | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 180,127 | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 185,203 | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 188,494 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 193,878 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 202,842 | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 210,163 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 217,330 | +3.4% |
| 2025 | 224,417 | +3.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 95,178 | 84,911 | 106,003 | 9 |
| 2000s | 125,610 | 109,163 | 142,378 | 10 |
| 2010s | 165,952 | 146,463 | 185,203 | 10 |
| 2020s | 206,187 | 188,494 | 224,417 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa: Low income
- 33 Ukraine 18,519 compare
- 34 Poland 18,458 compare
- 35 Peru 18,258 compare
- 36 South Africa 18,073 compare
- 37 Malaysia 18,015 compare
- 38 North Korea 17,070 compare
- 39 Saudi Arabia 16,665 compare
More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa: Low income
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 249,290 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 69.01 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 111,936 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 3.31 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 3.2 % change on previous year (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 66.18 (2027)
- Employment 224,417 (2025)
- Employment (ILO modelled estimates), annual growth rate 3.26 % change on previous year (2025)
- Employment (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 3.26 % change on previous year (2025)
- Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) 69.01 (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment (ilo modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa: Low income?
- Employment (ilo modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa: Low income was 224,417 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa: Low income?
- The highest recorded value was 224,417 in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa: Low income?
- The lowest recorded value was 84,911 in 1991.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa: Low income rank for employment (ilo modelled estimates)?
- Sub-Saharan Africa: Low income ranks 36th out of 87 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa: Low income?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa: Low income data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The employed comprise all persons of working age who, during a specified brief period, were in one of the following categories: a) paid employment (whether at work or with a job but not at work); or b) self-employment (whether at work or with an enterprise but not at work). Data disaggregated by status in employment are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Classification of Status in Employment (ICSE-93). Data may have been regrouped from the national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ICSE. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.