Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 55.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Sierra Leone, 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 Sierra Leone is 55.2%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Sierra Leone peaked at 66.3% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 55.2%, in 2025.
Sierra Leone ranks 177th 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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 63.6% | — |
| 1991 | 63.7% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 63.7% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 63.8% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 63.9% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 64.0% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 64.1% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 64.2% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 64.3% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 64.4% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 64.5% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 64.6% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 64.6% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 64.6% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 66.3% | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 65.5% | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 64.6% | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 63.8% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 62.9% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 62.1% | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 61.2% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 60.3% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 59.4% | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 58.5% | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 57.6% | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 57.3% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 57.0% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 56.8% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 56.5% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 56.1% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 55.5% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 55.8% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 55.8% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 55.5% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 55.4% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 55.2% | -0.4% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 55.2% is below the median for low income countries, which is 76.1%, 72% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 55.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.1%, 79% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 64.0% | 63.6% | 64.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 64.4% | 62.1% | 66.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.1% | 56.1% | 61.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 55.5% | 55.2% | 55.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 174 Mauritania 56.6% compare
- 175 United States Virgin Islands 56.2% compare
- 176 Tajikistan 55.8% compare
- 178 Samoa 54.5% compare
- 179 Eswatini 54.0% compare
- 180 Papua New Guinea 53.3% compare
More work & labour data for Sierra Leone
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.1141 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1389 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.091 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.2881 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.17 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 7,725 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,247 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 8,103 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 7,832 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 15,934 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Sierra Leone?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Sierra Leone was 55.2% 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 66.3% in 2004.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 55.2% in 2025.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Sierra Leone ranks 177th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.