Employment in Eastern Africa
Eastern Africa: Employment was 209,236 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
209,236
Change on year
up 3.2%
Rank
36th
of 85 groups
All-time high
209,236
in 2025
All-time low
101,417
in 2000
Years of data
26
2000–2025
Employment in Eastern Africa, 2000–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, employment in Eastern Africa stood at 209,236. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.2% on the previous year and up 31.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in Eastern Africa peaked at 209,236 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 101,417, in 2000.
Eastern Africa ranks 36th of 85 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Employment in Eastern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 101,417 | — |
| 2001 | 104,579 | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 107,817 | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 111,255 | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 114,916 | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 118,671 | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 122,281 | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 125,953 | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 129,766 | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 133,386 | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 137,136 | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 142,721 | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 145,793 | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 153,121 | +5.0% |
| 2014 | 155,554 | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 159,026 | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 162,622 | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 165,400 | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 169,629 | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 173,918 | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 177,142 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 182,018 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | 189,159 | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 196,466 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 202,816 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | 209,236 | +3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 117,004 | 101,417 | 133,386 | 10 |
| 2010s | 156,492 | 137,136 | 173,918 | 10 |
| 2020s | 192,806 | 177,142 | 209,236 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Eastern Africa
More work & labour data for Eastern Africa
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 682,632 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.4373 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4374 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4375 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.5671 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.24 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 469,912 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 1.38 million 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 418,217 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 699,973 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in Eastern Africa?
- Employment in Eastern Africa was 209,236 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in Eastern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 209,236 in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in Eastern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 101,417 in 2000.
- How does Eastern Africa rank for employment?
- Eastern Africa ranks 36th out of 85 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in Eastern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Eastern Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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