Employment in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Employment was 502,587 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, employment in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 502,587. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 32.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 502,587 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 195,552, in 1991.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 20th out of 87 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 195,552 | — |
| 1992 | 201,391 | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 207,348 | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 213,945 | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 220,584 | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 226,584 | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 232,602 | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 239,094 | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 245,737 | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 252,726 | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 260,121 | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 267,818 | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 275,608 | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 283,857 | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 292,095 | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 300,144 | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 308,138 | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 316,161 | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 323,445 | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 330,933 | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 341,395 | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 349,428 | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 362,497 | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 369,750 | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 378,589 | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 387,960 | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 396,118 | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 406,458 | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 416,639 | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 420,328 | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 434,260 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 454,491 | +4.7% |
| 2023 | 473,093 | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 488,022 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | 502,587 | +3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 220,315 | 195,552 | 245,737 | 9 |
| 2000s | 288,011 | 252,726 | 323,445 | 10 |
| 2010s | 373,977 | 330,933 | 416,639 | 10 |
| 2020s | 462,130 | 420,328 | 502,587 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 17 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 37,479 compare
- 18 Türkiye 34,450 compare
- 19 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 33,760 compare
- 20 Egypt 33,658 compare
- 21 Tanzania, United Republic of 33,517 compare
- 22 France 29,352 compare
- 23 Republic of Korea 29,054 compare
More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 564,978 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 70.23 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 239,462 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 66.21 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 2.92 % change on previous year (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 3.04 % change on previous year (2027)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 86.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 71.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 65.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Employment in Sub-Saharan Africa was 502,587 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 502,587 in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 195,552 in 1991.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for employment?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 20th out of 87 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan 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.