Labor force participation rate by age in South Sudan
South Sudan: Labor force participation rate by age was 62.7% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
62.7%
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
19th
of 188 countries
All-time high
67.8%
in 1997
All-time low
61.7%
in 2013
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Labor force participation rate by age in South Sudan, 1990–2023
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, labor force participation rate by age in South Sudan stood at 62.7%.
That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and up 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in South Sudan peaked at 67.8% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 61.7%, in 2013.
That places South Sudan 19th out of 188 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate by age in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 66.9% | — |
| 1991 | 66.9% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 67.1% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 67.3% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 67.4% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 67.5% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 67.7% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 67.8% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 67.4% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 67.1% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 67.0% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 67.0% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 67.3% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 67.6% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 67.4% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 66.8% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 66.1% | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 65.3% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 64.6% | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 64.0% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 63.1% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 62.2% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 61.8% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 61.7% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 62.6% | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 63.5% | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 64.5% | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 66.4% | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 66.2% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 64.2% | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 63.6% | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 63.7% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 63.1% | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 62.7% | -0.6% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 62.7% is above the median for low income countries, which is 52.0%, 1.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 62.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.1%, 1.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 67.3% | 66.9% | 67.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 66.3% | 64.0% | 67.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 63.6% | 61.7% | 66.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.3% | 62.7% | 63.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
- 16 Mozambique 65.0% compare
- 17 Nigeria 64.8% compare
- 18 Canada 63.0% compare
- 20 Bolivia 60.6% compare
- 21 Saint Lucia 60.6% compare
- 22 Central African Republic 60.6% compare
More work & labour data for South Sudan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0243 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.0087 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0382 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.6635 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.59 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 9,132 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 16,235 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 12,299 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 11,542 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 23,841 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in South Sudan?
- Labor force participation rate by age in South Sudan was 62.7% in 2023, 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 South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 67.8% in 1997.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.7% in 2013.
- How does South Sudan rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- South Sudan ranks 19th out of 188 countries with data for 2023.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Sudan 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).