Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Nigeria

Nigeria: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 82.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
82.7%
Change on year
down 2.1%
World rank
20th
of 196 countries
All-time high
88.0%
in 1963
All-time low
63.5%
in 2013
Years of data
11
1963–2024

Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Nigeria, 1963–2024

0204060801963199320241963: 881983: 79.81986: 78.31991: 71.22004: 63.52011: 64.22013: 63.52019: 77.52022: 85.72023: 84.42024: 82.7

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Nigeria is 82.7%, measured in 2024.

That represents a change of down 2.1% on the previous year and up 30.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Nigeria peaked at 88.0% in 1963 and was at its lowest, 63.5%, in 2013.

That places Nigeria 20th out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.

Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Nigeria, 1963 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1963 88.0%
1983 79.8% -9.3%
1986 78.3% -1.8%
1991 71.2% -9.1%
2004 63.5% -10.8%
2011 64.2% +1.1%
2013 63.5% -1.2%
2019 77.5% +22.1%
2022 85.7% +10.6%
2023 84.4% -1.4%
2024 82.7% -2.1%

Nigeria compared with similar countries

  • Nigeria's 82.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 71.7%, 1.2× the median. (44 countries reporting)
  • Nigeria's 82.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.2%, 1.2× the median. (41 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 88.0% 88.0% 88.0% 1
1980s 79.1% 78.3% 79.8% 2
1990s 71.2% 71.2% 71.2% 1
2000s 63.5% 63.5% 63.5% 1
2010s 68.4% 63.5% 77.5% 3
2020s 84.3% 82.7% 85.7% 3

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 17 Saudi Arabia 84.0% compare
  2. 18 Nicaragua 83.3% compare
  3. 19 Paraguay 82.8% compare
  4. 21 Belize 82.4% compare
  5. 22 Indonesia 82.2% compare
  6. 23 Malaysia 81.9% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Nigeria

All data for Nigeria →

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 82.7% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 88.0% in 1963.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 63.5% in 2013.
How does Nigeria rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
Nigeria ranks 20th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is up 30.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Nigeria data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-male-percent-of-male-population-ages-15-national-estimate/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
220 places, 5,453 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

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.