Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) was 70.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Africa Western and Central, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Africa Western and Central recorded 70.0% for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Africa Western and Central peaked at 73.2% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 67.4%, in 2020.
That places Africa Western and Central 1st out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 72.7% | — |
| 1992 | 72.9% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 73.0% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 73.2% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 73.2% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 73.1% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 73.1% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 73.0% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 72.8% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 72.6% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 72.6% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 72.6% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 72.5% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 72.4% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 72.2% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 72.2% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 72.0% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 71.8% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 71.5% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 71.2% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 71.1% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 70.8% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 70.7% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 70.3% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 69.8% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 69.8% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 69.3% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 69.1% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 68.8% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 67.4% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 68.0% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 69.4% | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 70.2% | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 70.1% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 70.0% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 73.0% | 72.7% | 73.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 72.2% | 71.5% | 72.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 70.1% | 68.8% | 71.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.2% | 67.4% | 70.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
- 1 Qatar 86.9% compare
- 2 Solomon Islands 83.1% compare
- 3 Madagascar 82.9% compare
- 4 Tanzania, United Republic of 82.4% compare
More work & labour data for Africa Western and Central
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 54.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 72.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 49.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 52.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 87.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 67.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 68.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 73.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Africa Western and Central?
- Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Africa Western and Central was 70.0% 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 Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 73.2% in 1995.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 67.4% in 2020.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%)?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 1st out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central 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.