Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nigeria

Nigeria: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 80.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
80.5%
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
4th
of 196 countries
All-time high
80.7%
in 2023
All-time low
27.7%
in 1963
Years of data
11
1963–2024

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nigeria, 1963–2024

204060801963199320241963: 27.71983: 36.71986: 37.21991: 40.32004: 48.42011: 56.92013: 56.42019: 65.32022: 772023: 80.72024: 80.5

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

Nigeria recorded 80.5% for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in 2024.

That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and up 42.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nigeria peaked at 80.7% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 27.7%, in 1963.

Nigeria ranks 4th of 196 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Nigeria, 1963 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1963 27.7%
1983 36.7% +32.5%
1986 37.2% +1.4%
1991 40.3% +8.3%
2004 48.4% +20.2%
2011 56.9% +17.5%
2013 56.4% -0.8%
2019 65.3% +15.7%
2022 77.0% +18.0%
2023 80.7% +4.8%
2024 80.5% -0.3%

Nigeria compared with similar countries

  • Nigeria's 80.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47.6%, 1.7× the median. (44 countries reporting)
  • Nigeria's 80.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 57.6%, 1.4× the median. (41 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 27.7% 27.7% 27.7% 1
1980s 36.9% 36.7% 37.2% 2
1990s 40.3% 40.3% 40.3% 1
2000s 48.4% 48.4% 48.4% 1
2010s 59.5% 56.4% 65.3% 3
2020s 79.4% 77.0% 80.7% 3

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 1 Tanzania, United Republic of 81.7% compare
  2. 2 Bermuda 81.0% compare
  3. 2 Cayman Islands 81.0% compare
  4. 5 Isle of Man 80.1% compare
  5. 6 Faroe Islands 79.4% compare
  6. 7 Burundi 78.3% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Nigeria

All data for Nigeria →

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 80.5% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 80.7% in 2023.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 27.7% in 1963.
How does Nigeria rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
Nigeria ranks 4th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is up 42.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Nigeria data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-female-percent-of-female-population-ages-15-national/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
220 places, 5,454 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.