Share of workers employed in services vs. GDP per capita in Nigeria
Nigeria: Share of workers employed in services vs. GDP per capita was 31.6% in 2011. ▲ Rising
Share of workers employed in services vs. GDP per capita in Nigeria, 1960–2011
Source: Herrendorf et al. and Groningen Growth and Development Centre (2015) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2011, share of workers employed in services vs. gdp per capita in Nigeria stood at 31.6%.
The figure is down 5.1% on the previous year and up 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers employed in services vs. gdp per capita in Nigeria peaked at 52.2% in 1984 and was at its lowest, 16.6%, in 1960.
That places Nigeria 39th out of 44 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 52 years of available data.
Share of workers employed in services vs. GDP per capita in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 16.6% | — |
| 1961 | 17.1% | +3.0% |
| 1962 | 17.6% | +2.9% |
| 1963 | 19.5% | +10.8% |
| 1964 | 21.5% | +10.3% |
| 1965 | 22.8% | +6.0% |
| 1966 | 23.3% | +2.2% |
| 1967 | 20.8% | -10.7% |
| 1968 | 21.8% | +4.8% |
| 1969 | 24.0% | +10.1% |
| 1970 | 27.1% | +12.9% |
| 1971 | 27.4% | +1.1% |
| 1972 | 27.0% | -1.5% |
| 1973 | 27.3% | +1.1% |
| 1974 | 28.2% | +3.3% |
| 1975 | 31.8% | +12.8% |
| 1976 | 34.4% | +8.2% |
| 1977 | 37.5% | +9.0% |
| 1978 | 37.7% | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 38.6% | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 42.1% | +9.1% |
| 1981 | 46.2% | +9.7% |
| 1982 | 48.9% | +5.8% |
| 1983 | 51.5% | +5.3% |
| 1984 | 52.2% | +1.4% |
| 1985 | 50.5% | -3.3% |
| 1986 | 49.0% | -3.0% |
| 1987 | 47.7% | -2.7% |
| 1988 | 46.7% | -2.1% |
| 1989 | 45.4% | -2.8% |
| 1990 | 44.0% | -3.1% |
| 1991 | 42.5% | -3.4% |
| 1992 | 41.6% | -2.1% |
| 1993 | 40.6% | -2.4% |
| 1994 | 39.1% | -3.7% |
| 1995 | 37.8% | -3.3% |
| 1996 | 36.5% | -3.4% |
| 1997 | 35.4% | -3.0% |
| 1998 | 34.8% | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 34.2% | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 32.4% | -5.3% |
| 2001 | 31.1% | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 31.1% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 29.8% | -4.2% |
| 2004 | 32.8% | +10.1% |
| 2005 | 32.9% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 33.2% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 33.5% | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 33.6% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 33.4% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 33.3% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 31.6% | -5.1% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 31.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 36.2%, 87% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 31.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 34.7%, 91% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 20.5% | 16.6% | 24.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 31.7% | 27.0% | 38.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 48.0% | 42.1% | 52.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 38.6% | 34.2% | 44.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.4% | 29.8% | 33.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.5% | 31.6% | 33.3% | 2 |
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 share of workers employed in services vs. gdp per capita in Nigeria?
- Share of workers employed in services vs. gdp per capita in Nigeria was 31.6% in 2011, according to Herrendorf et al. and Groningen Growth and Development Centre (2015) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers employed in services vs. gdp per capita recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 52.2% in 1984.
- What is the lowest share of workers employed in services vs. gdp per capita recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.6% in 1960.
- How does Nigeria rank for share of workers employed in services vs. gdp per capita?
- Nigeria ranks 39th out of 44 countries with data for 2011.
- Is share of workers employed in services vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Herrendorf et al. and Groningen Growth and Development Centre (2015) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers employed in services vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The vertical axis shows historical estimates of the employment share in the service sector. The horizontal axis shows GDP per capita, adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.