Female labor force participation rate (Labour Force) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Female labor force participation rate (Labour Force) was 80.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate in Nigeria, 1963–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female labor force participation rate in Nigeria is 80.5%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 42.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Nigeria peaked at 80.7% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 27.7%, in 1963.
That places Nigeria 4th out of 194 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate (Labour Force) in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 27.7% | — |
| 1983 | 36.7% | +32.5% |
| 1986 | 37.2% | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 40.3% | +8.3% |
| 2004 | 48.4% | +20.2% |
| 2011 | 56.9% | +17.5% |
| 2013 | 56.4% | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 65.3% | +15.7% |
| 2022 | 77.0% | +18.0% |
| 2023 | 80.7% | +4.8% |
| 2024 | 80.5% | -0.3% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 80.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47.6%, 1.7× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 80.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 57.6%, 1.4× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 27.7% | 27.7% | 27.7% | 1 |
| 1980s | 36.9% | 36.7% | 37.2% | 2 |
| 1990s | 40.3% | 40.3% | 40.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 48.4% | 48.4% | 48.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 59.5% | 56.4% | 65.3% | 3 |
| 2020s | 79.4% | 77.0% | 80.7% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 1 Tanzania 81.7% compare
- 2 Bermuda 81.0% compare
- 2 Cayman Islands 81.0% compare
- 5 Isle of Man 80.1% compare
- 6 Faroe Islands 79.4% compare
- 7 Burundi 78.3% 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 labor force participation rate in Nigeria?
- Female labor force participation rate in Nigeria was 80.5% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 80.7% in 2023.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.7% in 1963.
- How does Nigeria rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Nigeria ranks 4th out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.6%. 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 labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.