Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Kenya
Kenya: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) was 72.3% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Kenya, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Kenya is 72.3%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Kenya peaked at 77.6% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 72.3%, in 2025.
That places Kenya 139th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 77.0% | — |
| 1991 | 76.8% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 76.6% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 76.4% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 76.2% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 75.9% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 75.7% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 75.5% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 75.2% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 75.0% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 75.1% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 75.3% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 75.4% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 75.5% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 75.7% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 75.8% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 76.0% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 76.1% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 76.3% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 76.5% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 76.6% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 76.8% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 77.0% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 77.1% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 77.3% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 77.5% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 77.6% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 76.2% | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 74.7% | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 73.1% | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 72.3% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 72.6% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 72.6% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 72.5% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 72.4% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 72.3% | -0.1% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 72.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 72.6%, 100% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 72.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 71.5%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 76.0% | 75.0% | 77.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 75.8% | 75.1% | 76.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 76.4% | 73.1% | 77.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 72.4% | 72.3% | 72.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
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, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Kenya?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Kenya was 72.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 77.6% in 2016.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 72.3% in 2025.
- How does Kenya rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64)?
- Kenya ranks 139th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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, male (% of male 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.