Employment in Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income
Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income: Employment was 21,128 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income, 2000–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, employment in Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income stood at 21,128. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 10.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income peaked at 21,128 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 15,229, in 2000.
Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income ranks 71st of 85 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Employment in Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 15,229 | — |
| 2001 | 15,515 | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 15,828 | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 16,119 | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 16,437 | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 16,746 | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 17,061 | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 17,350 | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 17,619 | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 17,192 | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 16,763 | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 17,048 | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 17,463 | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 18,031 | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 18,392 | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 19,150 | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 19,079 | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 19,339 | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 19,729 | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 19,840 | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 18,410 | -7.2% |
| 2021 | 18,137 | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 19,235 | +6.1% |
| 2023 | 20,425 | +6.2% |
| 2024 | 20,867 | +2.2% |
| 2025 | 21,128 | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 16,510 | 15,229 | 17,619 | 10 |
| 2010s | 18,483 | 16,763 | 19,840 | 10 |
| 2020s | 19,700 | 18,137 | 21,128 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income
- 68 Zimbabwe 4,983 compare
- 69 Cuba 4,970 compare
- 70 Syrian Arab Republic 4,949 compare
- 71 Azerbaijan 4,901 compare
- 72 Switzerland 4,886 compare
- 73 Belarus 4,798 compare
- 74 Hungary 4,687 compare
More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 31,178 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 56.03 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 24,462 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 1.28 % change on previous year (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.33 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) 56.03 (2027)
- NEET: Youth not in employment, education or training 4,259 (2027)
- NEET rate: Share of youth not in employment, education or training 34.27 (2027)
- Potential labour force and willing non-jobseekers 5,477 (2027)
- Potential labour force and willing non-jobseekers rate 14.94 (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income?
- Employment in Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income was 21,128 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income?
- The highest recorded value was 21,128 in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income?
- The lowest recorded value was 15,229 in 2000.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income rank for employment?
- Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income ranks 71st out of 85 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income 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.
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