Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) was 63.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Africa Eastern and Southern is 63.7%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 66.5% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 60.5%, in 2021.
That places Africa Eastern and Southern 7th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 65.7% | — |
| 1992 | 65.7% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 65.7% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 65.9% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 66.2% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 66.3% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 66.3% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 66.3% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 66.2% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 66.2% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 66.2% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 66.2% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 66.3% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 66.4% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 66.5% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 66.4% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 66.3% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 66.1% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 65.7% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 65.1% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 65.3% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 64.7% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 65.5% | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 64.7% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 64.3% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 63.8% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 63.1% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 62.6% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 62.1% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 60.7% | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 60.5% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 61.2% | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 63.6% | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 63.7% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 63.7% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 66.1% | 65.7% | 66.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 66.2% | 65.7% | 66.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 64.1% | 62.1% | 65.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.2% | 60.5% | 63.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
More work & labour data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 52.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 74.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 68.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 48.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 50.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 75.4% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 86.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 63.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 65.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 70.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Africa Eastern and Southern was 63.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 66.5% in 2005.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 60.5% in 2021.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%)?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 7th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed.