Employment in Eastern Africa
Eastern Africa: Employment was 209,236 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in Eastern Africa, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, employment in Eastern Africa stood at 209,236. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.2% on the previous year and up 31.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in Eastern Africa peaked at 209,236 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 78,229, in 1991.
That places Eastern Africa 38th out of 87 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in Eastern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 78,229 | — |
| 1992 | 80,499 | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 82,770 | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 85,176 | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 87,849 | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 90,447 | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 93,086 | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 95,741 | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 98,446 | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 101,417 | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 104,579 | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 107,817 | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 111,255 | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 114,916 | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 118,671 | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 122,281 | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 125,953 | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 129,766 | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 133,386 | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 137,136 | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 142,721 | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 145,793 | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 153,121 | +5.0% |
| 2014 | 155,554 | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 159,026 | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 162,622 | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 165,400 | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 169,629 | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 173,918 | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 177,142 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 182,018 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | 189,159 | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 196,466 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 202,816 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | 209,236 | +3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 88,027 | 78,229 | 98,446 | 9 |
| 2000s | 117,004 | 101,417 | 133,386 | 10 |
| 2010s | 156,492 | 137,136 | 173,918 | 10 |
| 2020s | 192,806 | 177,142 | 209,236 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Eastern Africa
- 35 Peru 18,258 compare
- 36 South Africa 18,073 compare
- 37 Malaysia 18,015 compare
- 38 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 17,070 compare
- 39 Saudi Arabia 16,665 compare
- 40 Madagascar 16,572 compare
- 41 Mozambique 14,620 compare
More work & labour data for Eastern Africa
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 682,632 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.4373 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4374 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4375 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.5671 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.24 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 699,973 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 418,217 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 469,912 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 1.38 million 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in Eastern Africa?
- Employment in Eastern Africa was 209,236 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in Eastern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 209,236 in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in Eastern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 78,229 in 1991.
- How does Eastern Africa rank for employment?
- Eastern Africa ranks 38th out of 87 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in Eastern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Eastern Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment (ILO modelled estimates). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
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 economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.