Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) was 50.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Africa Eastern and Southern recorded 50.7% for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 57.4% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 48.8%, in 2021.
That places Africa Eastern and Southern 7th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 57.2% | — |
| 1991 | 57.3% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 57.4% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 57.3% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 57.2% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 57.3% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 57.4% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 57.3% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 57.0% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 56.6% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 56.2% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 55.9% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 55.6% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 55.4% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 55.2% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 55.1% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 54.8% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 54.5% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 54.2% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 53.6% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 53.1% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 53.5% | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 52.1% | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 53.6% | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 52.1% | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 51.7% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 51.2% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 50.4% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 49.7% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 49.3% | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 48.9% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 48.8% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 49.0% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 51.0% | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 50.7% | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 50.7% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 57.2% | 56.6% | 57.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 55.1% | 53.6% | 56.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.7% | 49.3% | 53.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.9% | 48.8% | 51.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
- 4 Madagascar 72.4% compare
- 5 Solomon Islands 70.8% compare
- 6 Niger 70.8% compare
- 7 Tanzania, United Republic of 70.7% compare
- 8 Cambodia 70.5% compare
- 9 Australia 70.2% compare
- 10 Uganda 69.8% compare
More work & labour data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 48.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 68.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 74.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 86.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 52.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 70.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 65.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 75.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 63.7% (2025)
- Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) 5.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Africa Eastern and Southern was 50.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 57.4% in 1992.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.8% in 2021.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%)?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 7th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24 is the proportion of the population ages 15-24 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.