Labor force (15-64 years), total in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria

Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria: Labor force (15-64 years), total was 313.22 million in 2011. ▲ Rising

Latest (2011)
313.22 million
Change on year
up 3.1%
Rank
5th
of 6 groups
All-time high
313.22 million
in 2011
All-time low
145.38 million
in 1990
Years of data
22
1990–2011

Labor force (15-64 years), total in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria, 1990–2011

0100.0M200.0M300.0M1990200020111990: 145.4M1991: 149.7M1992: 154.1M1993: 158.6M1994: 163.5M1995: 168.4M1996: 173.2M1997: 178.2M1998: 183.4M1999: 188.7M2000: 225.3M2001: 232.1M2002: 239.3M2003: 246.7M2004: 254.4M2005: 262.0M2006: 269.4M2007: 277.3M2008: 285.8M2009: 294.6M2010: 303.9M2011: 313.2M

Source: International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.

Analysis

In 2011, labor force (15-64 years), total in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria stood at 313.22 million. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.

The figure is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 34.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force (15-64 years), total in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria peaked at 313.22 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 145.38 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 South Africa and Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Labor force (15-64 years), total in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria, 1990 to 2011.
Year Value Change
1990 145.38 million
1991 149.66 million +2.9%
1992 154.12 million +3.0%
1993 158.65 million +2.9%
1994 163.51 million +3.1%
1995 168.36 million +3.0%
1996 173.23 million +2.9%
1997 178.22 million +2.9%
1998 183.38 million +2.9%
1999 188.67 million +2.9%
2000 225.31 million +19.4%
2001 232.12 million +3.0%
2002 239.34 million +3.1%
2003 246.72 million +3.1%
2004 254.35 million +3.1%
2005 261.96 million +3.0%
2006 269.37 million +2.8%
2007 277.28 million +2.9%
2008 285.77 million +3.1%
2009 294.64 million +3.1%
2010 303.91 million +3.1%
2011 313.22 million +3.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 166.32 million 145.38 million 188.67 million 10
2000s 258.69 million 225.31 million 294.64 million 10
2010s 308.57 million 303.91 million 313.22 million 2

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria

  1. 2 Ethiopia 46.64 million compare
  2. 3 Egypt 32.02 million compare
  3. 4 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 29.16 million compare
  4. 5 Tanzania, United Republic of 25.29 million compare
  5. 6 South Africa 21.69 million compare
  6. 7 Kenya 18.17 million compare
  7. 8 Sudan 16.17 million compare

See the full ranking of 58 places →

More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force (15-64 years), total in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria?
Labor force (15-64 years), total in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria was 313.22 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 South Africa and Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 313.22 million in 2011.
What is the lowest labor force (15-64 years), total recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 145.38 million in 1990.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria rank for labor force (15-64 years), total?
Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria ranks 5th out of 6 groups with data for 2011.
Is labor force (15-64 years), total rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is up 34.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria 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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Labor force (15-64 years), total in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-15-64-years-total/sub-saharan-africa-excluding-south-africa-and-nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force (15-64 years), total
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.