Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) was 14.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in Africa Western and Central, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in Africa Western and Central stood at 14.7%.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 25.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in Africa Western and Central peaked at 14.7% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 10.2%, in 2001.
Africa Western and Central ranks 16th of 47 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 in industry, female (% of female employment) in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 10.7% | — |
| 1992 | 10.6% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 10.5% | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 10.4% | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 10.3% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 10.4% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 10.4% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 10.4% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 10.4% | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 10.2% | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 10.2% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 10.3% | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 10.3% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 10.4% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 10.4% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 10.4% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 10.3% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 10.4% | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 10.6% | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 10.9% | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 11.1% | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 11.5% | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 11.9% | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 11.9% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 11.7% | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 11.3% | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 11.6% | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 11.5% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 11.6% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 12.5% | +7.6% |
| 2021 | 13.1% | +4.5% |
| 2022 | 14.7% | +12.3% |
| 2023 | 14.6% | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 14.5% | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 14.7% | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.5% | 10.3% | 10.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 10.3% | 10.2% | 10.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.5% | 10.9% | 11.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.0% | 12.5% | 14.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
- 13 Afghanistan 21.6% compare
- 14 Sao Tome and Principe 21.2% compare
- 15 Maldives 21.1% compare
- 16 Czechia 20.9% compare
- 17 Togo 20.9% compare
- 18 North Korea 20.4% compare
- 19 Turkmenistan 19.8% compare
More work & labour data for Africa Western and Central
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 49.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 72.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 87.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 54.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 68.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 67.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 73.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 52.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in Africa Western and Central?
- Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in Africa Western and Central was 14.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment in industry, female (% of female employment) recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 14.7% in 2022.
- What is the lowest employment in industry, female (% of female employment) recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.2% in 2001.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for employment in industry, female (% of female employment)?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 16th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment in industry, female (% of female employment) rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment is defined as persons of working age who were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangement. The industry sector consists of mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, and public utilities (electricity, gas, and water), in accordance with divisions 2-5 (ISIC 2) or categories C-F (ISIC 3) or categories B-F (ISIC 4).