Employment in services (% of total employment) in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Employment in services (% of total employment) was 43.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in services (% of total employment) in Africa Western and Central, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Africa Western and Central recorded 43.3% 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 0.9% on the previous year and up 6.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in services (% of total employment) in Africa Western and Central peaked at 43.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 30.0%, in 1991.
That places Africa Western and Central 34th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in services (% of total employment) in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 30.0% | — |
| 1992 | 30.2% | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 30.3% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 30.5% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 30.7% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 30.9% | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 31.3% | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 31.7% | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 32.0% | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 32.4% | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 32.7% | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 32.9% | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 33.3% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 33.9% | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 34.4% | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 34.9% | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 35.5% | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 36.2% | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 36.9% | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 37.7% | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 38.4% | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 39.0% | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 39.5% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 40.1% | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 40.7% | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 41.0% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 41.5% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 42.1% | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 42.9% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 41.3% | -3.7% |
| 2021 | 41.5% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 41.8% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 42.3% | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 42.8% | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 43.3% | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.8% | 30.0% | 32.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 34.3% | 32.4% | 36.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.3% | 37.7% | 42.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 42.2% | 41.3% | 43.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
- 31 Montenegro 77.6% compare
- 32 New Caledonia 77.6% compare
- 33 Spain 76.8% compare
- 34 Lebanon 76.4% compare
- 35 Saint Lucia 76.3% compare
- 36 Finland 75.7% compare
- 37 Mauritius 74.7% 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 services (% of total employment) in Africa Western and Central?
- Employment in services (% of total employment) in Africa Western and Central was 43.3% 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 Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 43.3% in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment in services (% of total employment) recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.0% in 1991.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for employment in services (% of total employment)?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 34th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment in services (% of total employment) rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.3%. 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 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).