Labor force participation rate by age in Gabon
Gabon: Labor force participation rate by age was 17.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in Gabon, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Gabon recorded 17.8% for labor force participation rate by age in 2024.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Gabon peaked at 24.2% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 16.1%, in 2020.
That places Gabon 185th out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate by age in Gabon, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 24.1% | — |
| 1991 | 24.2% | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 24.2% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 24.2% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 24.1% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 23.9% | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 23.7% | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 23.3% | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 23.0% | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 22.6% | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 22.2% | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 21.8% | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 21.4% | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 21.0% | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 20.5% | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 20.1% | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 19.7% | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 19.3% | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 18.9% | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 18.6% | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 18.4% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 18.2% | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 18.0% | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 17.8% | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 17.7% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 17.6% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 17.6% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 17.7% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 17.7% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 17.8% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 16.1% | -9.8% |
| 2021 | 16.5% | +2.8% |
| 2022 | 17.9% | +8.2% |
| 2023 | 17.8% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 17.8% | -0.3% |
Gabon compared with similar countries
- Gabon's 17.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 38.9%, 46% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Gabon's 17.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.1%, 47% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 23.7% | 22.6% | 24.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.4% | 18.6% | 22.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.9% | 17.6% | 18.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.2% | 16.1% | 17.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Gabon
More work & labour data for Gabon
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.6318 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.6403 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.6237 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.4321 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.39 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 3,339 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 176.73 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 3,488 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 3,415 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 6,903 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in Gabon?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Gabon was 17.8% 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 Gabon?
- The highest recorded value was 24.2% in 1992.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Gabon?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.1% in 2020.
- How does Gabon rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Gabon ranks 185th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Gabon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Gabon 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).