Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 83.3% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Nigeria, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 83.3% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in 2025.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Nigeria peaked at 85.3% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 80.1%, in 2020.
Nigeria ranks 11th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 83.1% | — |
| 1991 | 83.7% | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 84.4% | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 84.8% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 85.2% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 85.3% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 85.0% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 84.9% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 84.7% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 84.6% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 84.3% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 84.1% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 84.0% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 83.7% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 83.5% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 83.2% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 83.0% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 82.8% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 82.6% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 82.7% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 82.5% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 82.3% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 82.2% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 82.1% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 82.0% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 82.0% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 81.9% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 81.9% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 81.8% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 81.8% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 80.1% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 80.8% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 82.0% | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 83.3% | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 83.4% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 83.3% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 84.6% | 83.1% | 85.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 83.4% | 82.6% | 84.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 82.1% | 81.8% | 82.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 82.1% | 80.1% | 83.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 8 Tanzania, United Republic of 85.0% compare
- 9 Switzerland 84.0% compare
- 10 Sweden 83.9% compare
- 12 Bahamas 82.9% compare
- 13 New Zealand 82.6% compare
- 14 Japan 82.3% compare
More work & labour data for Nigeria
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0306 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.0025 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0591 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.3624 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.71 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 287,130 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 123,508 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 237,227 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 239,521 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 476,748 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Nigeria?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Nigeria was 83.3% 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 85.3% in 1995.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 80.1% in 2020.
- How does Nigeria rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- Nigeria ranks 11th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.