Female labor force by age in Nigeria
Nigeria: Female labor force by age was 2.22 million people in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
2.22 million people
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
6th
of 188 countries
All-time high
2.22 million people
in 2024
All-time low
809,340 people
in 1990
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Female labor force by age in Nigeria, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, female labor force by age in Nigeria stood at 2.22 million people. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.7% on the previous year and up 54.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force by age in Nigeria peaked at 2.22 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 809,340 people, in 1990.
That places Nigeria 6th out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Female labor force by age in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 809,340 people | — |
| 1991 | 824,857 people | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 820,705 people | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 854,278 people | +4.1% |
| 1994 | 902,807 people | +5.7% |
| 1995 | 942,955 people | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 966,689 people | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 1.00 million people | +3.9% |
| 1998 | 1.04 million people | +3.7% |
| 1999 | 1.09 million people | +4.7% |
| 2000 | 1.13 million people | +3.5% |
| 2001 | 1.16 million people | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 1.14 million people | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 1.16 million people | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 1.18 million people | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 1.22 million people | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 1.27 million people | +4.6% |
| 2007 | 1.33 million people | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 1.36 million people | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 1.32 million people | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 1.34 million people | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 1.37 million people | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 1.40 million people | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 1.42 million people | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 1.44 million people | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 1.49 million people | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 1.58 million people | +6.3% |
| 2017 | 1.68 million people | +6.4% |
| 2018 | 1.78 million people | +5.5% |
| 2019 | 1.87 million people | +5.3% |
| 2020 | 1.89 million people | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 2.05 million people | +8.7% |
| 2022 | 2.08 million people | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 2.18 million people | +5.0% |
| 2024 | 2.22 million people | +1.7% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 2.22 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 65,994 people, 33.7× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 2.22 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 79,623 people, 27.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 925,862 people | 809,340 people | 1.09 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.23 million people | 1.13 million people | 1.36 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.54 million people | 1.34 million people | 1.87 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.08 million people | 1.89 million people | 2.22 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
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 labor force by age in Nigeria?
- Female labor force by age in Nigeria was 2.22 million people in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force by age recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 2.22 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest female labor force by age recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 809,340 people in 1990.
- How does Nigeria rank for female labor force by age?
- Nigeria ranks 6th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is female labor force by age rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 54.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed).