Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Kenya
Kenya: Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) was 35.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Kenya, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Kenya recorded 35.4% for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 21.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Kenya peaked at 53.1% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 35.4%, in 2025.
That places Kenya 112th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 53.1% | — |
| 1991 | 52.7% | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 52.3% | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 51.8% | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 51.3% | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 50.8% | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 50.4% | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 49.9% | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 49.4% | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 48.9% | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 48.7% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 48.4% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 48.2% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 48.0% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 47.8% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 47.6% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 47.3% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 47.1% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 46.9% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 46.7% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 46.4% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 46.2% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 46.0% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 45.8% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 45.5% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 45.3% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 45.1% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 42.6% | -5.6% |
| 2018 | 40.1% | -5.8% |
| 2019 | 37.7% | -6.1% |
| 2020 | 36.6% | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 36.2% | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 36.5% | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 36.4% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 35.6% | -2.2% |
| 2025 | 35.4% | -0.4% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 35.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.2%, 1.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 35.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.1%, 93% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 51.0% | 48.9% | 53.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.7% | 46.7% | 48.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.1% | 37.7% | 46.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.1% | 35.4% | 36.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 109 Cote d'Ivoire 36.5% compare
- 110 New Caledonia 36.4% compare
- 111 Trinidad and Tobago 36.4% compare
- 113 Suriname 35.1% compare
- 114 Brunei 34.9% compare
- 115 Portugal 34.7% compare
More work & labour data for Kenya
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.0278 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.0507 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.0073 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2281 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.98 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 44,185 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 51,282 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 53,727 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 50,468 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 104,196 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Kenya?
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Kenya was 35.4% 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 53.1% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.4% in 2025.
- How does Kenya rank for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%)?
- Kenya ranks 112th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya 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.