Employment in Nigeria
Nigeria: Employment was 113,009 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in Nigeria, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in Nigeria is 113,009, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.9% on the previous year and up 37.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in Nigeria peaked at 113,009 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 43,314, in 1991.
That places Nigeria 5th out of 188 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 43,314 | — |
| 1992 | 44,967 | +3.8% |
| 1993 | 46,458 | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 48,174 | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 49,663 | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 51,059 | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 52,540 | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 54,026 | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 55,516 | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 56,938 | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 58,402 | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 59,952 | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 61,378 | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 62,876 | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 64,254 | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 65,755 | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 67,321 | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 68,951 | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 70,734 | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 72,466 | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 74,314 | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 76,334 | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 78,286 | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 80,204 | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 82,228 | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 84,286 | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 86,514 | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 88,870 | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 91,321 | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 91,496 | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 95,435 | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 101,241 | +6.1% |
| 2023 | 106,691 | +5.4% |
| 2024 | 109,871 | +3.0% |
| 2025 | 113,009 | +2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 49,524 | 43,314 | 55,516 | 9 |
| 2000s | 63,656 | 56,938 | 70,734 | 10 |
| 2010s | 81,482 | 72,466 | 91,321 | 10 |
| 2020s | 102,957 | 91,496 | 113,009 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More work & labour data for Nigeria
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0306 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.0025 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0591 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.3624 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.71 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 287,130 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 123,508 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 237,227 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 239,521 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 476,748 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in Nigeria?
- Employment in Nigeria was 113,009 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 113,009 in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 43,314 in 1991.
- How does Nigeria rank for employment?
- Nigeria ranks 5th out of 188 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.