Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Kenya
Kenya: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 68.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Kenya, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Kenya recorded 68.0% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in 2025.
That represents a change of down 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Kenya peaked at 74.7% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 67.4%, in 2020.
Kenya ranks 105th 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 Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 73.8% | — |
| 1991 | 73.7% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 73.7% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 73.6% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 73.5% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 73.5% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 73.4% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 73.3% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 73.3% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 73.2% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 73.3% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 73.3% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 73.4% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 73.5% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 73.6% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 73.7% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 73.7% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 73.8% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 73.9% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 74.0% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 74.1% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 74.2% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 74.3% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 74.4% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 74.5% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 74.6% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 74.7% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 72.6% | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 70.4% | -3.0% |
| 2019 | 68.1% | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 67.4% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 67.9% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 68.0% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 68.1% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 68.1% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 68.0% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 73.5% | 73.2% | 73.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 73.6% | 73.3% | 74.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 73.2% | 68.1% | 74.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 67.9% | 67.4% | 68.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 102 Mali 68.5% compare
- 103 Côte d'Ivoire 68.2% compare
- 104 Ecuador 68.0% compare
- 106 United States Virgin Islands 67.8% compare
- 107 Bhutan 67.7% compare
- 108 Timor-Leste 67.4% compare
More work & labour data for Kenya
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.0278 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.0507 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.0073 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2281 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.98 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 44,185 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 51,282 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 53,727 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 50,468 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 104,196 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Kenya?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Kenya was 68.0% 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 74.7% in 2016.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 67.4% in 2020.
- How does Kenya rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- Kenya ranks 105th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya 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.