Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 71.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Burkina Faso, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Burkina Faso stood at 71.2%. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 10.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Burkina Faso peaked at 85.7% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 71.2%, in 2025.
Burkina Faso ranks 76th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 Burkina Faso, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 85.7% | — |
| 1991 | 85.7% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 85.5% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 85.2% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 85.0% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 84.8% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 84.5% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 84.3% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 84.1% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 83.8% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 83.6% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 83.3% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 83.1% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 82.9% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 82.6% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 82.4% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 82.2% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 81.9% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 81.7% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 81.4% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 81.2% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 81.0% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 80.7% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 80.5% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 80.2% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 80.0% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 79.7% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 79.4% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 79.2% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 78.9% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 76.5% | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 75.3% | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 73.7% | -2.2% |
| 2023 | 72.5% | -1.6% |
| 2024 | 71.3% | -1.6% |
| 2025 | 71.2% | -0.1% |
Burkina Faso compared with similar countries
- Burkina Faso's 71.2% is above the median for low income countries, which is 68.5%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Burkina Faso's 71.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 65.8%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 84.9% | 83.8% | 85.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 82.5% | 81.4% | 83.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 80.1% | 78.9% | 81.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 73.4% | 71.2% | 76.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Burkina Faso
More work & labour data for Burkina Faso
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0413 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.016 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0657 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.6828 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.33 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 21,677 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 21,530 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 25,421 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 24,433 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 49,854 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Burkina Faso?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Burkina Faso was 71.2% 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 Burkina Faso?
- The highest recorded value was 85.7% in 1991.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The lowest recorded value was 71.2% in 2025.
- How does Burkina Faso rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- Burkina Faso ranks 76th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Burkina Faso 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.