Labor force (15-64 years), total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Labor force (15-64 years), total was 390.13 million in 2011. ▲ Rising
Labor force (15-64 years), total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 1990–2011
Source: International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force (15-64 years), total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) is 390.13 million, measured in 2011. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.9% on the previous year and up 32.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force (15-64 years), total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) peaked at 390.13 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 185.22 million, in 1990.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Labor force (15-64 years), total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 185.22 million | — |
| 1991 | 190.73 million | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 196.47 million | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 202.32 million | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 208.50 million | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 214.64 million | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 220.76 million | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 226.98 million | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 233.33 million | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 239.78 million | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 285.54 million | +19.1% |
| 2001 | 293.55 million | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 301.98 million | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 310.60 million | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 319.54 million | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 329.05 million | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 338.21 million | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 347.96 million | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 358.71 million | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 368.62 million | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 379.01 million | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 390.13 million | +2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 211.87 million | 185.22 million | 239.78 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 325.38 million | 285.54 million | 368.62 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 384.57 million | 379.01 million | 390.13 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 49.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 86.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 75.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 70.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 53.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 66.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 65.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 71.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 51.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force (15-64 years), total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Labor force (15-64 years), total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) was 390.13 million in 2011, according to International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
- What is the highest labor force (15-64 years), total recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 390.13 million in 2011.
- What is the lowest labor force (15-64 years), total recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 185.22 million in 1990.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank for labor force (15-64 years), total?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 3rd out of 6 groups with data for 2011.
- Is labor force (15-64 years), total rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 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), total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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.