Labor force (15-64 years), female in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa: Labor force (15-64 years), female was 46.1% in 2011. ▬ Flat

Latest (2011)
46.1%
Change on year
down 0.0%
Rank
4th
of 6 groups
All-time high
46.2%
in 2004
All-time low
44.4%
in 1990
Years of data
22
1990–2011

Labor force (15-64 years), female in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–2011

010203040501990200020111990: 44.4 % of total labor force 15-64 years1991: 44.5 % of total labor force 15-64 years1992: 44.7 % of total labor force 15-64 years1993: 44.9 % of total labor force 15-64 years1994: 45 % of total labor force 15-64 years1995: 45.1 % of total labor force 15-64 years1996: 45.2 % of total labor force 15-64 years1997: 45.3 % of total labor force 15-64 years1998: 45.4 % of total labor force 15-64 years1999: 45.5 % of total labor force 15-64 years2000: 45.6 % of total labor force 15-64 years2001: 45.7 % of total labor force 15-64 years2002: 45.9 % of total labor force 15-64 years2003: 46.1 % of total labor force 15-64 years2004: 46.2 % of total labor force 15-64 years2005: 46.2 % of total labor force 15-64 years2006: 46.2 % of total labor force 15-64 years2007: 46.2 % of total labor force 15-64 years2008: 46.2 % of total labor force 15-64 years2009: 46.1 % of total labor force 15-64 years2010: 46.1 % of total labor force 15-64 years2011: 46.1 % of total labor force 15-64 years

Source: International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Measured in % of total labor force 15-64 years.

Analysis

Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 46.1% for labor force (15-64 years), female in 2011.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force (15-64 years), female in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 46.2% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 44.4%, in 1990.

Labor force (15-64 years), female in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Labor force (15-64 years), female (% of total labor force 15-64 years) in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990 to 2011.
Year % of total labor force 15-64 years Change
1990 44.4%
1991 44.5% +0.3%
1992 44.7% +0.4%
1993 44.9% +0.4%
1994 45.0% +0.3%
1995 45.1% +0.2%
1996 45.2% +0.2%
1997 45.3% +0.3%
1998 45.4% +0.3%
1999 45.5% +0.2%
2000 45.6% +0.1%
2001 45.7% +0.4%
2002 45.9% +0.4%
2003 46.1% +0.4%
2004 46.2% +0.3%
2005 46.2% -0.0%
2006 46.2% +0.0%
2007 46.2% -0.0%
2008 46.2% -0.0%
2009 46.1% -0.0%
2010 46.1% -0.0%
2011 46.1% -0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 45.0% 44.4% 45.5% 10
2000s 46.0% 45.6% 46.2% 10
2010s 46.1% 46.1% 46.1% 2

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa

  1. 1 Mozambique 52.8% compare
  2. 2 Rwanda 51.7% compare
  3. 3 Burundi 51.5% compare
  4. 4 Malawi 51.1% compare
  5. 5 Sierra Leone 51.1% compare
  6. 6 Togo 50.4% compare
  7. 7 Tanzania, United Republic of 49.7% compare

See the full ranking of 58 places →

More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force (15-64 years), female in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Labor force (15-64 years), female in Sub-Saharan Africa was 46.1% in 2011, according to International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
What is the highest labor force (15-64 years), female recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 46.2% in 2004.
What is the lowest labor force (15-64 years), female recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 44.4% in 1990.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for labor force (15-64 years), female?
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 4th out of 6 groups with data for 2011.
Is labor force (15-64 years), female rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database, published as part of Labor force (15-64 years), female (% of total labor force 15-64 years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force (15-64 years), female in Sub-Saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-15-64-years-female-percent-of-total-labor-force-15-64-years/sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force (15-64 years), female (% of total labor force 15-64 years)
Unit
% of total labor force 15-64 years
Source
International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
58 places, 1,276 data points, 1990–2011
Last refreshed

The labor force comprising people ages 15 to 64 who meet the International Labour Organization definition of the economically active population: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes both the employed and the unemployed. While national practices vary in the treatment of such groups as the armed forces and seasonal or part-time workers, in general the labor force includes the armed forces, the unemployed, and first-time job-seekers, but excludes homemakers and other unpaid caregivers and workers in the informal sector.