Labor force participation rate by age in Tanzania
Tanzania: Labor force participation rate by age was 70.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in Tanzania, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate by age in Tanzania is 70.8%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Tanzania peaked at 80.0% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 68.3%, in 2020.
Tanzania ranks 7th of 188 countries on this measure, 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 Tanzania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 80.0% | — |
| 1991 | 79.8% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 79.6% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 79.1% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 78.3% | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 77.9% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 78.1% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 78.3% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 78.2% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 78.1% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 78.0% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 78.0% | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 78.3% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 78.6% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 79.0% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 79.3% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 79.6% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 78.8% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 78.0% | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 77.1% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 76.2% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 75.3% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 74.3% | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 73.4% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 72.4% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 72.1% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 71.8% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 71.5% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 71.3% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 71.1% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 68.3% | -3.9% |
| 2021 | 70.7% | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 70.9% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 70.9% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 70.8% | -0.1% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 70.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.6%, 2.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 70.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.1%, 1.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 78.7% | 77.9% | 80.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 78.5% | 77.1% | 79.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 72.9% | 71.1% | 76.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 70.3% | 68.3% | 70.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More work & labour data for Tanzania
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 7,078 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 83.66 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 36,231 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 1.52 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.09 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 8,562 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 2,584 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 82.38 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 3.35 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 3.13 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in Tanzania?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Tanzania was 70.8% 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 Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 80.0% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 68.3% in 2020.
- How does Tanzania rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Tanzania ranks 7th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Tanzania 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).