Labor force participation rate by age in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Labor force participation rate by age was 31.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in Sierra Leone, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 31.0% for labor force participation rate by age in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 7.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Sierra Leone peaked at 42.3% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 28.8%, in 2014.
That places Sierra Leone 136th 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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 37.8% | — |
| 1991 | 37.9% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 38.1% | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 38.2% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 38.3% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 38.5% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 38.6% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 38.8% | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 38.9% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 39.1% | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 39.2% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 39.3% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 39.3% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 39.3% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 42.3% | +7.7% |
| 2005 | 40.9% | -3.4% |
| 2006 | 39.4% | -3.5% |
| 2007 | 38.0% | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 36.6% | -3.7% |
| 2009 | 35.3% | -3.7% |
| 2010 | 33.9% | -3.8% |
| 2011 | 32.6% | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 31.3% | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 30.0% | -4.0% |
| 2014 | 28.8% | -4.1% |
| 2015 | 29.6% | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 30.4% | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 31.3% | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 32.1% | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 31.6% | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 31.3% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 31.4% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 31.2% | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 31.1% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 31.0% | -0.4% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 31.0% is below the median for low income countries, which is 52.0%, 60% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 31.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.1%, 81% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 38.4% | 37.8% | 39.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 39.0% | 35.3% | 42.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.2% | 28.8% | 33.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.2% | 31.0% | 31.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 133 Kyrgyzstan 31.4% compare
- 134 India 31.2% compare
- 135 Saudi Arabia 31.2% compare
- 137 Cape Verde 30.9% compare
- 138 Croatia 30.8% compare
- 139 Bhutan 30.8% compare
More work & labour data for Sierra Leone
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.1141 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1389 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.091 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.2881 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.17 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 7,725 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,247 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 8,103 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 7,832 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 15,934 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in Sierra Leone?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Sierra Leone was 31.0% 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 42.3% in 2004.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.8% in 2014.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Sierra Leone ranks 136th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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).