Employment rate, men vs. women in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Employment rate, men vs. women was 52.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment rate, men vs. women in Sierra Leone, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment rate, men vs. women in Sierra Leone is 52.9%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate, men vs. women in Sierra Leone peaked at 63.3% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 52.9%, in 2025.
Sierra Leone ranks 167th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment rate, men vs. women in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 60.4% | — |
| 1992 | 60.3% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 60.4% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 60.4% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 60.6% | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 60.7% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 60.7% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 60.9% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 61.0% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 61.2% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 61.2% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 61.5% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 61.5% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 63.3% | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 62.2% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 61.4% | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 60.5% | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 59.6% | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 58.7% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 57.9% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 57.1% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 56.3% | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 55.5% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 54.4% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 54.2% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 54.1% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 54.1% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 54.1% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 53.7% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 53.0% | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 53.2% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 53.5% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 53.3% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 53.1% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 52.9% | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 60.6% | 60.3% | 61.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 61.1% | 58.7% | 63.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.1% | 53.7% | 57.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.2% | 52.9% | 53.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 164 Bosnia and Herzegovina 54.3% compare
- 165 North Macedonia 53.7% compare
- 166 Jordan 53.2% compare
- 168 Libya 52.9% compare
- 169 Samoa 52.5% compare
- 170 Mauritania 52.0% compare
More work & labour data for Sierra Leone
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.1141 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1389 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.091 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.2881 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.17 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 7,725 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,247 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 8,103 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 7,832 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 15,934 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate, men vs. women in Sierra Leone?
- Employment rate, men vs. women in Sierra Leone was 52.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate, men vs. women recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 63.3% in 2004.
- What is the lowest employment rate, men vs. women recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 52.9% in 2025.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for employment rate, men vs. women?
- Sierra Leone ranks 167th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate, men vs. women rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate, men vs. women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the male working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.