Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 67.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Africa Western and Central, 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 Africa Western and Central stood at 67.3%.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Africa Western and Central peaked at 69.2% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 64.4%, in 2020.
Africa Western and Central ranks 1st of 47 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 67.9% | — |
| 1991 | 68.3% | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 68.6% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 68.8% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 69.2% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 69.2% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 69.1% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 69.2% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 69.1% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 69.2% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 69.2% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 69.2% | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 69.2% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 69.1% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 69.0% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 68.9% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 68.9% | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 68.8% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 68.6% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 68.4% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 68.2% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 67.9% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 67.7% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 67.4% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 67.0% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 66.7% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 66.6% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 66.2% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 65.9% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 65.7% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 64.4% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 65.1% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 65.7% | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 67.4% | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 67.4% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 67.3% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 68.9% | 67.9% | 69.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 68.9% | 68.4% | 69.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.9% | 65.7% | 68.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 66.2% | 64.4% | 67.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
- 1 Madagascar 82.9% compare
- 2 Solomon Islands 82.3% compare
- 3 Nigeria 80.7% compare
- 4 Tanzania, United Republic of 80.3% compare
More work & labour data for Africa Western and Central
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 49.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 72.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 87.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 54.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 52.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 68.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 73.3% (2025)
- Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) 14.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Africa Western and Central?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Africa Western and Central was 67.3% 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 Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 69.2% in 1995.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.4% in 2020.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 1st out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central 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+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The labor force participation rate is the labor force as a percent of the population ages 15 and older. The labor force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed.