Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 84.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Nigeria, 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+) in Nigeria is 84.3%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Nigeria peaked at 90.6% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 83.7%, in 2020.
That places Nigeria 14th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 89.2% | — |
| 1991 | 89.6% | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 90.0% | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 90.3% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 90.5% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 90.6% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 90.4% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 90.1% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 89.9% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 89.7% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 89.3% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 89.0% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 88.6% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 88.3% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 87.9% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 87.6% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 87.2% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 86.9% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 86.6% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 86.6% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 86.2% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 86.3% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 86.2% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 85.9% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 85.8% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 85.8% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 85.7% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 85.6% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 85.5% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 85.3% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 83.7% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 84.3% | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 85.5% | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 84.4% | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 84.4% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 84.3% | -0.1% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 84.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 70.3%, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 84.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.1%, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 90.0% | 89.2% | 90.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 87.8% | 86.6% | 89.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 85.8% | 85.3% | 86.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 84.4% | 83.7% | 85.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 11 Bahrain 85.9% compare
- 12 Uganda 84.6% compare
- 13 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 84.4% compare
- 15 Eritrea 84.1% compare
- 16 Saudi Arabia 83.3% compare
- 17 Central African Republic 82.8% compare
More work & labour data for Nigeria
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0306 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.0025 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0591 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.3624 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.71 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 287,130 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 123,508 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 237,227 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 239,521 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 476,748 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Nigeria?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Nigeria was 84.3% 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+) recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 90.6% in 1995.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 83.7% in 2020.
- How does Nigeria rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Nigeria ranks 14th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nigeria 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+) (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 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.