Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) was 49.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) in Africa Western and Central, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) in Africa Western and Central stood at 49.5%.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 4.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) in Africa Western and Central peaked at 64.7% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 46.6%, 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, ages 15-24, total (%) in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 63.0% | — |
| 1992 | 64.0% | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 64.4% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 64.7% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 64.5% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 64.0% | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 63.4% | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 62.9% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 62.2% | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 61.3% | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 60.7% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 60.2% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 59.5% | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 58.8% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 58.0% | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 57.0% | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 56.1% | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 55.2% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 55.2% | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 54.3% | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 54.2% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 53.6% | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 53.2% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 52.5% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 51.7% | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 51.2% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 49.9% | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 49.1% | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 48.2% | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 46.6% | -3.3% |
| 2021 | 47.5% | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 49.4% | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 49.8% | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 49.7% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 49.5% | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 63.7% | 62.2% | 64.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 58.2% | 55.2% | 61.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.8% | 48.2% | 54.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.8% | 46.6% | 49.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
- 1 Netherlands 75.9% compare
- 2 Iceland 75.0% compare
- 3 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 72.3% compare
- 4 Niger 70.4% 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, ages 15-24, total (%) in Africa Western and Central?
- Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) in Africa Western and Central was 49.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 64.7% in 1994.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.6% in 2020.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%)?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 1st out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.3%. 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, ages 15-24, 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.