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

Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa: Labor force (15-64 years), total was 368.86 million in 2011. ▲ Rising

Latest (2011)
368.86 million
Change on year
up 3.0%
Rank
4th
of 6 groups
All-time high
368.86 million
in 2011
All-time low
174.61 million
in 1990
Years of data
22
1990–2011

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

0100.0M200.0M300.0M400.0M1990200020111990: 174.6M1991: 179.7M1992: 184.9M1993: 190.2M1994: 195.9M1995: 201.6M1996: 207.2M1997: 213.0M1998: 219.0M1999: 225.1M2000: 267.8M2001: 275.4M2002: 283.4M2003: 291.6M2004: 300.0M2005: 309.0M2006: 317.7M2007: 327.0M2008: 336.9M2009: 347.3M2010: 358.1M2011: 368.9M

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

Analysis

Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa recorded 368.86 million for labor force (15-64 years), total in 2011. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.

The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 34.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force (15-64 years), total in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa peaked at 368.86 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 174.61 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, year by year

Annual values for Labor force (15-64 years), total in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa, 1990 to 2011.
Year Value Change
1990 174.61 million
1991 179.67 million +2.9%
1992 184.91 million +2.9%
1993 190.24 million +2.9%
1994 195.90 million +3.0%
1995 201.56 million +2.9%
1996 207.24 million +2.8%
1997 213.03 million +2.8%
1998 218.99 million +2.8%
1999 225.06 million +2.8%
2000 267.75 million +19.0%
2001 275.35 million +2.8%
2002 283.39 million +2.9%
2003 291.59 million +2.9%
2004 300.03 million +2.9%
2005 309.03 million +3.0%
2006 317.73 million +2.8%
2007 326.99 million +2.9%
2008 336.89 million +3.0%
2009 347.25 million +3.1%
2010 358.06 million +3.1%
2011 368.86 million +3.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 199.12 million 174.61 million 225.06 million 10
2000s 305.60 million 267.75 million 347.25 million 10
2010s 363.46 million 358.06 million 368.86 million 2

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa

  1. 1 Nigeria 55.64 million compare
  2. 2 Ethiopia 46.64 million compare
  3. 3 Egypt 32.02 million compare
  4. 4 Democratic Republic of Congo 29.16 million compare
  5. 5 Tanzania, United Republic of 25.29 million compare
  6. 6 South Africa 21.69 million compare
  7. 7 Kenya 18.17 million compare

See the full ranking of 58 places →

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

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force (15-64 years), total in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?
Labor force (15-64 years), total in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa was 368.86 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?
The highest recorded value was 368.86 million in 2011.
What is the lowest labor force (15-64 years), total recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 174.61 million in 1990.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa rank for labor force (15-64 years), total?
Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa ranks 4th 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?
Over the last ten years it is up 34.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South 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), 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. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-15-64-years-total/sub-saharan-africa-excluding-south-africa/

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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.