Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 73.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Africa Western and Central, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Africa Western and Central is 73.3%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Africa Western and Central peaked at 77.7% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 71.7%, in 2020.
Africa Western and Central ranks 10th of 47 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 76.8% | — |
| 1991 | 77.1% | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 77.4% | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 77.5% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 77.7% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 77.7% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 77.5% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 77.4% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 77.3% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 77.2% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 77.1% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 76.9% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 76.9% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 76.7% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 76.6% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 76.4% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 76.2% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 76.0% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 75.8% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 75.6% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 75.4% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 75.2% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 74.9% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 74.6% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 74.3% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 74.0% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 73.9% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 73.4% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 73.2% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 73.0% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 71.7% | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 72.2% | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 72.9% | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 73.4% | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 73.4% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 73.3% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 77.4% | 76.8% | 77.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 76.4% | 75.6% | 77.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 74.2% | 73.0% | 75.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 72.8% | 71.7% | 73.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
- 7 Netherlands 85.6% compare
- 8 Tanzania, United Republic of 85.0% compare
- 9 Switzerland 84.0% compare
- 10 Sweden 83.9% compare
- 11 Nigeria 83.3% compare
- 12 Bahamas 82.9% compare
- 13 New Zealand 82.6% compare
More work & labour data for Africa Western and Central
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 49.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 72.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 87.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 54.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 52.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 68.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 67.3% (2025)
- Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) 14.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Africa Western and Central?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Africa Western and Central was 73.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 77.7% in 1994.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 71.7% in 2020.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 10th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, total (% of total 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.