Female labor force participation rates in Nigeria
Nigeria: Female labor force participation rates was 80.7 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
80.7
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
3rd
of 186 countries
All-time high
80.71
in 2024
All-time low
74.63
in 1990
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Female labor force participation rates in Nigeria, 1990–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, female labor force participation rates in Nigeria stood at 80.7.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rates in Nigeria peaked at 80.71 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 74.63, in 1990.
Nigeria ranks 3rd of 186 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Female labor force participation rates in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 74.63 | — |
| 1991 | 75.41 | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 76.26 | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 76.76 | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 77.54 | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 77.72 | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 77.55 | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 77.62 | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 77.55 | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 77.63 | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 77.55 | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 77.4 | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 77.38 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 77.13 | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 76.99 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 76.75 | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 76.73 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 76.71 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 76.59 | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 76.45 | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 76.36 | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 75.94 | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 75.92 | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 75.77 | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 75.66 | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 75.76 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 75.89 | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 76.16 | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 76.36 | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 76.6 | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 74.89 | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 75.89 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 76.93 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 80.69 | +4.9% |
| 2024 | 80.71 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 80.7 | -0.0% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 80.7 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 49.67, 1.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 80.7 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 57.3, 1.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 76.87 | 74.63 | 77.72 | 10 |
| 2000s | 76.97 | 76.45 | 77.55 | 10 |
| 2010s | 76.04 | 75.66 | 76.6 | 10 |
| 2020s | 78.3 | 74.89 | 80.71 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 1 Madagascar 82.91 compare
- 2 Solomon Islands 82.34 compare
- 4 Tanzania 80.28 compare
- 5 Burundi 79.5 compare
- 6 North Korea 77.71 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 rates in Nigeria?
- Female labor force participation rates in Nigeria was 80.7 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rates recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 80.71 in 2024.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rates recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 74.63 in 1990.
- How does Nigeria rank for female labor force participation rates?
- Nigeria ranks 3rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rates rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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