Employment in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Employment was 502,587 in 2025. β² Rising
Employment in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000β2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in Sub-Saharan Africa is 502,587, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 32.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 502,587 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 252,726, in 2000.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 20th of 87 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 288,011 | 252,726 | 323,445 | 10 |
| 2010s | 373,977 | 330,933 | 416,639 | 10 |
| 2020s | 462,130 | 420,328 | 502,587 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 17 United Kingdom 34,120 compare
- 18 Egypt, Arab Republic of 32,678 compare
- 19 TΓΌrkiye 32,566 compare
- 20 Tanzania, United Republic of 31,035 compare
- 21 France 29,383 compare
- 22 Korea 28,881 compare
- 23 Iran, Islamic Republic of 24,568 compare
More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 53.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 75.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 70.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 49.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 51.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.5% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 86.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 65.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 66.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 71.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Employment in Sub-Saharan Africa was 502,587 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 502,587 in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 252,726 in 2000.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for employment?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 20th out of 87 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan 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
CSV Β· JSON β 26 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).