Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 81.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
81.9%
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
9th
of 187 countries
All-time high
81.9%
in 2024
All-time low
76.0%
in 2020
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nigeria, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nigeria stood at 81.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nigeria peaked at 81.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 76.0%, in 2020.
Nigeria ranks 9th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 76.3% | — |
| 1991 | 77.2% | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 78.1% | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 78.6% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 79.3% | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 79.4% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 79.2% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 79.2% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 79.1% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 79.1% | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 79.0% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 78.8% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 78.9% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 78.6% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 78.5% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 78.2% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 78.1% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 78.1% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 77.9% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 78.0% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 77.9% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 77.5% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 77.5% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 77.3% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 77.2% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 77.3% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 77.3% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 77.5% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 77.6% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 77.7% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 76.0% | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 76.8% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 78.0% | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 81.9% | +5.0% |
| 2024 | 81.9% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 81.9% | -0.0% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 81.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 51.4%, 1.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 81.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 59.0%, 1.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 78.6% | 76.3% | 79.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 78.4% | 77.9% | 79.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 77.5% | 77.2% | 77.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 79.4% | 76.0% | 81.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More work & labour data for Nigeria
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0306 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.0025 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0591 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.3624 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.71 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 287,130 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 123,508 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 237,227 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 239,521 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 476,748 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nigeria?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nigeria was 81.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 81.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 76.0% in 2020.
- How does Nigeria rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Nigeria ranks 9th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.