Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Nigeria
Nigeria: Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 was 77.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Nigeria, 1983–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Nigeria stood at 77.1%.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and up 41.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Nigeria peaked at 77.5% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 35.2%, in 1983.
Nigeria ranks 5th of 172 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 35.2% | — |
| 1986 | 35.6% | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 47.4% | +33.3% |
| 2011 | 54.8% | +15.6% |
| 2013 | 54.5% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 62.4% | +14.4% |
| 2022 | 72.9% | +17.0% |
| 2023 | 77.5% | +6.2% |
| 2024 | 77.1% | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 35.4% | 35.2% | 35.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 47.4% | 47.4% | 47.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 57.2% | 54.5% | 62.4% | 3 |
| 2020s | 75.8% | 72.9% | 77.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 2 Tanzania 78.9% compare
- 3 Isle of Man 78.3% compare
- 4 Burundi 77.5% compare
- 6 Cayman Islands 76.8% compare
- 7 Faroe Islands 75.6% compare
- 8 Cambodia 74.2% compare
More work & labour data for Nigeria
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0306 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.0025 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0591 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.3624 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.71 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 287,130 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 123,508 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 237,227 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 239,521 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 476,748 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Nigeria?
- Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Nigeria was 77.1% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 77.5% in 2023.
- What is the lowest female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.2% in 1983.
- How does Nigeria rank for female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024?
- Nigeria ranks 5th out of 172 countries with data for 2024.
- Is female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are employed. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.