Employment in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Employment was 502,587 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2025
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 19th of 85 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Employment in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 252,726 | — |
| 2001 | 260,121 | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 267,818 | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 275,608 | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 283,857 | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 292,095 | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 300,144 | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 308,138 | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 316,161 | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 323,445 | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 330,933 | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 341,395 | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 349,428 | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 362,497 | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 369,750 | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 378,589 | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 387,960 | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 396,118 | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 406,458 | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 416,639 | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 420,328 | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 434,260 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 454,491 | +4.7% |
| 2023 | 473,093 | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 488,022 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | 502,587 | +3.0% |
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
More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 239,462 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 70.23 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 564,978 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.5 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 5.73 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 11,723 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 4,279 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 66.21 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 3.04 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 2.92 % change on previous year (2027)
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 19th out of 85 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 · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).