Labor force participation rate by age in Nigeria
Nigeria: Labor force participation rate by age was 64.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
64.8%
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
17th
of 188 countries
All-time high
86.8%
in 1994
All-time low
61.7%
in 2020
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Labor force participation rate by age in Nigeria, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, labor force participation rate by age in Nigeria stood at 64.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Nigeria peaked at 86.8% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 61.7%, in 2020.
That places Nigeria 17th out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate by age in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 80.1% | — |
| 1991 | 82.4% | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 85.0% | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 86.0% | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 86.8% | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 86.8% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 85.7% | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 84.4% | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 83.5% | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 82.4% | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 80.7% | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 79.6% | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 78.4% | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 77.2% | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 75.9% | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 74.4% | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 72.4% | -2.7% |
| 2007 | 70.7% | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 69.6% | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 70.6% | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 69.4% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 69.5% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 69.0% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 68.2% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 68.1% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 67.7% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 66.9% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 65.6% | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 64.8% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 63.7% | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 61.7% | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 62.1% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 64.2% | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 64.9% | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 64.8% | -0.0% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 64.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.6%, 1.9× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 64.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.1%, 1.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 84.3% | 80.1% | 86.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 75.0% | 69.6% | 80.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 67.3% | 63.7% | 69.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.5% | 61.7% | 64.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 14 Switzerland 65.7% compare
- 15 New Zealand 65.7% compare
- 16 Mozambique 65.0% compare
- 18 Canada 63.0% compare
- 19 South Sudan 62.7% compare
- 20 Bolivia 60.6% compare
More work & labour data for Nigeria
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0306 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.0025 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0591 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.3624 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.71 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 287,130 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 123,508 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 237,227 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 239,521 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 476,748 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in Nigeria?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Nigeria was 64.8% 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 86.8% in 1994.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.7% in 2020.
- How does Nigeria rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Nigeria ranks 17th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nigeria 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).