Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 24.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Sao Tome and Principe, 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 Sao Tome and Principe is 24.0%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 27.8% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 23.6%, in 2020.
Sao Tome and Principe ranks 187th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
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 Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 27.7% | — |
| 1991 | 27.8% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 27.8% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 27.8% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 27.7% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 27.6% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 27.4% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 27.1% | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 26.8% | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 26.4% | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 26.0% | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 25.7% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 25.6% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 25.5% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 25.4% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 25.3% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 25.3% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 25.3% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 25.4% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 25.4% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 25.4% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 25.3% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 25.3% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 25.3% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 25.3% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 25.2% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 25.1% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 24.8% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 24.5% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 24.1% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 23.6% | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 23.7% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 24.0% | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 24.0% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 24.0% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 24.0% | -0.3% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 24.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 70.3%, 34% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 24.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.1%, 34% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 27.4% | 26.4% | 27.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.5% | 25.3% | 26.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.0% | 24.1% | 25.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.9% | 23.6% | 24.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
More work & labour data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.2544 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.2707 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2382 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.0643 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.73 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 323.75 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 56 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 271.01 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 263 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 534.01 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Sao Tome and Principe was 24.0% 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 Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 27.8% in 1992.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.6% in 2020.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 187th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe 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.