Employment rate in Senegal
Senegal: Employment rate was 50.6% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
50.6%
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
137th
of 186 countries
All-time high
50.6%
in 2025
All-time low
42.4%
in 2015
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Employment rate in Senegal, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, employment rate in Senegal stood at 50.6%. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and up 19.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Senegal peaked at 50.6% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 42.4%, in 2015.
Senegal ranks 137th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Employment rate in Senegal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 49.6% | — |
| 1992 | 49.5% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 49.4% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 49.3% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 49.3% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 49.2% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 49.1% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 49.1% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 49.1% | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 49.0% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 48.9% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 48.8% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 48.7% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 48.7% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 48.7% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 48.6% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 48.1% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 47.6% | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 47.1% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 46.6% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 46.1% | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 45.2% | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 44.2% | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 43.3% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 42.4% | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 47.9% | +12.9% |
| 2017 | 44.1% | -7.8% |
| 2018 | 46.7% | +5.8% |
| 2019 | 49.3% | +5.5% |
| 2020 | 49.0% | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 49.9% | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 50.5% | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 50.4% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 50.4% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 50.6% | +0.4% |
Senegal compared with similar countries
- Senegal's 50.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 54.4%, 93% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Senegal's 50.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 58.8%, 86% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 49.3% | 49.1% | 49.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 48.4% | 47.1% | 49.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.6% | 42.4% | 49.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.1% | 49.0% | 50.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Senegal
- 134 France 51.2% compare
- 135 Belgium 51.1% compare
- 136 Papua New Guinea 50.7% compare
- 138 Cape Verde 50.2% compare
- 139 New Caledonia 50.1% compare
- 140 Montenegro 50.1% compare
More work & labour data for Senegal
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.3558 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.335 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.3759 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.3778 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.78 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 21,943 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 12,088 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 23,953 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 23,061 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 47,014 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate in Senegal?
- Employment rate in Senegal was 50.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate recorded in Senegal?
- The highest recorded value was 50.6% in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Senegal?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.4% in 2015.
- How does Senegal rank for employment rate?
- Senegal ranks 137th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Senegal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Senegal 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.