Employment in services (% of total employment) in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Employment in services (% of total employment) was 34.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in services (% of total employment) in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Africa Eastern and Southern recorded 34.7% for employment in services (% of total employment) in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and up 10.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in services (% of total employment) in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 34.7% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 27.7%, in 2003.
Africa Eastern and Southern 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 (% of total employment) in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 28.5% | — |
| 1992 | 28.0% | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 27.9% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 27.8% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 27.9% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 28.2% | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 28.1% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 28.1% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 28.1% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 28.1% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 27.9% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 27.7% | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 27.7% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 27.8% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 28.0% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 28.3% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 28.6% | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 28.9% | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 29.1% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 29.8% | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 30.2% | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 30.6% | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 30.4% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 31.0% | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 31.5% | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 32.1% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 32.7% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 33.5% | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 34.5% | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 33.0% | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 32.8% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 33.6% | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 33.7% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 34.3% | +1.8% |
| 2025 | 34.7% | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 28.1% | 27.8% | 28.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 28.2% | 27.7% | 29.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.6% | 29.8% | 34.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.7% | 32.8% | 34.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
- 38 New Zealand 74.6% compare
- 39 Saudi Arabia 74.4% compare
- 40 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 74.4% compare
- 41 Dominican Republic 74.0% compare
- 42 Japan 74.0% compare
- 43 South Africa 73.8% compare
- 44 Kuwait 73.5% compare
More work & labour data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 48.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 74.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 68.9% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 86.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 52.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 65.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 63.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 70.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 75.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 50.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in services (% of total employment) in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Employment in services (% of total employment) in Africa Eastern and Southern was 34.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment in services (% of total employment) recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 34.7% in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment in services (% of total employment) recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.7% in 2003.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for employment in services (% of total employment)?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 41st out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment in services (% of total employment) rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment in services (% of total 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).