Labor force participation rate by age in Rwanda
Rwanda: Labor force participation rate by age was 48.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in Rwanda, 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 Rwanda stood at 48.7%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.5% on the previous year and up 8.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Rwanda peaked at 61.9% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 38.7%, in 2021.
That places Rwanda 53rd 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 Rwanda, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 56.7% | — |
| 1991 | 56.6% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 56.3% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 55.8% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 58.4% | +4.7% |
| 1995 | 61.9% | +5.9% |
| 1996 | 60.4% | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 59.0% | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 57.1% | -3.3% |
| 1999 | 54.8% | -4.0% |
| 2000 | 52.7% | -3.9% |
| 2001 | 50.7% | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 49.3% | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 48.4% | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 47.7% | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 47.3% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 47.1% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 47.0% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 46.9% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 46.6% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 46.3% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 45.9% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 45.5% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 45.1% | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 44.7% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 44.3% | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 43.8% | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 43.3% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 42.6% | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 41.8% | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 47.8% | +14.1% |
| 2021 | 38.7% | -19.0% |
| 2022 | 39.9% | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 45.3% | +13.6% |
| 2024 | 48.7% | +7.5% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 48.7% is below the median for low income countries, which is 52.0%, 94% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 48.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.1%, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 57.7% | 54.8% | 61.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.4% | 46.6% | 52.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.3% | 41.8% | 46.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 44.1% | 38.7% | 48.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More work & labour data for Rwanda
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.267 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.2752 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2591 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.3518 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.32 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 6,483 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 15,403 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 16,639 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 16,140 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 32,779 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in Rwanda?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Rwanda was 48.7% 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 61.9% in 1995.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.7% in 2021.
- How does Rwanda rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Rwanda ranks 53rd out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Rwanda 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).