Employment in services, male (% of male employment) in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Employment in services, male (% of male employment) was 34.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in services, male (% of male employment) in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in services, male (% of male employment) in Sub-Saharan Africa is 34.9%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 7.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in services, male (% of male employment) in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 34.9% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 27.3%, in 1992.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 41st of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in services, male (% of male employment) in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 27.5% | — |
| 1992 | 27.3% | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 27.4% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 27.3% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 27.3% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 27.5% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 27.6% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 27.7% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 27.9% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 28.1% | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 28.1% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 28.1% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 28.4% | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 28.7% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 29.0% | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 29.3% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 29.6% | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 30.0% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 30.3% | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 31.1% | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 31.5% | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 31.7% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 31.5% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 32.1% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 32.4% | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 32.8% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 33.2% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 33.9% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 34.7% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 33.4% | -3.7% |
| 2021 | 33.6% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 34.2% | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 34.1% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 34.6% | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 34.9% | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 27.5% | 27.3% | 27.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 29.0% | 28.1% | 30.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.5% | 31.1% | 34.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.1% | 33.4% | 34.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 38 Spain 66.3% compare
- 39 New Caledonia 66.3% compare
- 40 Greece 65.7% compare
- 41 Japan 65.3% compare
- 42 South Africa 64.8% compare
- 43 Iraq 64.2% compare
- 44 New Zealand 64.0% compare
More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 70.23 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 564,978 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 239,462 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 5.73 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 2.92 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.5 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 11,723 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 3.04 % change on previous year (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 66.21 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 4,279 (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in services, male (% of male employment) in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Employment in services, male (% of male employment) in Sub-Saharan Africa was 34.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment in services, male (% of male employment) recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 34.9% in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment in services, male (% of male employment) recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.3% in 1992.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for employment in services, male (% of male employment)?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 41st out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment in services, male (% of male employment) rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment in services, male (% of male 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 services sector consists of wholesale and retail trade and restaurants and hotels; transport, storage, and communications; financing, insurance, real estate, and business services; and community, social, and personal services, in accordance with divisions 6-9 (ISIC 2) or categories G-Q (ISIC 3) or categories G-U (ISIC 4).