Labor force (15-64 years), total in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Labor force (15-64 years), total was 390.55 million in 2011. ▲ Rising
Labor force (15-64 years), total in Sub-Saharan Africa, 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 is 390.55 million, measured in 2011. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is 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 peaked at 390.55 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 185.42 million, in 1990.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 212.09 million | 185.42 million | 240.02 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 325.71 million | 285.83 million | 369.01 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 384.98 million | 379.41 million | 390.55 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 53.4% (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, female (%) 49.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 51.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.5% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 86.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 65.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 66.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 71.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force (15-64 years), total in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Labor force (15-64 years), total in Sub-Saharan Africa was 390.55 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?
- The highest recorded value was 390.55 million in 2011.
- What is the lowest labor force (15-64 years), total recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 185.42 million in 1990.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for labor force (15-64 years), total?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd out of 6 groups with data for 2011.
- Is labor force (15-64 years), total rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- 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 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.