Labor force participation rate by age in Nigeria
Nigeria: Labor force participation rate by age was 64.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
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.
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
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 64.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 82.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 84.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 64.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 64.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 80.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 81.9% (2025)
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).