Labor force participation rate by age in Congo
Congo: Labor force participation rate by age was 43.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in Congo, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate by age in Congo is 43.3%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Congo peaked at 47.2% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 40.8%, in 2020.
That places Congo 76th out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate by age in Congo, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 47.2% | — |
| 1991 | 47.0% | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 46.7% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 46.3% | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 46.0% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 45.9% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 45.7% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 45.8% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 45.8% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 45.5% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 44.5% | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 43.7% | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 43.6% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 43.4% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 43.0% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 42.5% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 42.1% | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 41.8% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 41.8% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 41.6% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 41.4% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 41.7% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 42.2% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 42.8% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 43.3% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 43.7% | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 43.9% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 44.0% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 43.9% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 43.8% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 40.8% | -6.9% |
| 2021 | 41.5% | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 43.5% | +4.9% |
| 2023 | 43.4% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 43.3% | -0.3% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 43.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.6%, 1.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Congo's 43.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.1%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 46.2% | 45.5% | 47.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.8% | 41.6% | 44.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.1% | 41.4% | 44.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 42.5% | 40.8% | 43.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Congo
- 73 Montenegro 43.8% compare
- 74 Estonia 43.6% compare
- 75 Colombia 43.6% compare
- 77 Pakistan 43.3% compare
- 78 Azerbaijan 43.2% compare
- 79 Democratic Republic of Congo 43.1% compare
More work & labour data for Congo
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.6949 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.6877 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.7017 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2906 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.46 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 9,208 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 2,302 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 10,131 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 9,894 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 20,026 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in Congo?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Congo was 43.3% 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 Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 47.2% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.8% in 2020.
- How does Congo rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Congo ranks 76th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Congo 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).