Labor force participation rate by age in Benin
Benin: Labor force participation rate by age was 52.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
52.4%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
43rd
of 188 countries
All-time high
66.3%
in 1991
All-time low
43.1%
in 2011
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Labor force participation rate by age in Benin, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Benin recorded 52.4% for labor force participation rate by age in 2024.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 16.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Benin peaked at 66.3% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 43.1%, in 2011.
Benin ranks 43rd of 188 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate by age in Benin, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 66.2% | — |
| 1991 | 66.3% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 66.3% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 65.5% | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 64.7% | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 63.9% | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 63.1% | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 62.3% | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 61.5% | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 60.6% | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 59.8% | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 59.0% | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 58.1% | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 56.5% | -2.8% |
| 2004 | 54.8% | -3.0% |
| 2005 | 53.1% | -3.1% |
| 2006 | 51.4% | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 49.7% | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 48.1% | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 46.4% | -3.5% |
| 2010 | 44.7% | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 43.1% | -3.7% |
| 2012 | 43.7% | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 44.3% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 45.0% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 45.6% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 46.3% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 46.9% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 47.6% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 48.2% | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 49.3% | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 50.7% | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 52.6% | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 52.5% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 52.4% | -0.2% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 52.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.6%, 1.5× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Benin's 52.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.1%, 1.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 64.0% | 60.6% | 66.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 53.7% | 46.4% | 59.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.5% | 43.1% | 48.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.5% | 49.3% | 52.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Benin
- 40 Burundi 52.8% compare
- 41 United Kingdom 52.7% compare
- 42 Nicaragua 52.4% compare
- 44 Burkina Faso 52.0% compare
- 45 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 51.7% compare
- 46 Guatemala 51.6% compare
More work & labour data for Benin
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.4203 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.395 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4457 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.3247 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.72 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 15,661 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 8,269 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 19,967 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 19,620 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 39,588 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in Benin?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Benin was 52.4% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 66.3% in 1991.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.1% in 2011.
- How does Benin rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Benin ranks 43rd out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).