Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Uganda

Uganda: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 79.4% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
79.4%
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
12th
of 199 countries
All-time high
85.9%
in 2013
All-time low
38.1%
in 2003
Years of data
11
2002–2021

Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Uganda, 2002–2021

0204060802002201120212002: 82.32003: 38.12009: 85.42010: 732011: 802012: 70.12013: 85.92014: 76.62017: 722019: 77.72021: 79.4

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

Analysis

In 2021, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Uganda stood at 79.4%.

That represents a change of up 2.1% on the previous year and down 0.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Uganda peaked at 85.9% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 38.1%, in 2003.

That places Uganda 12th out of 199 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.

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

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

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Uganda, 2002 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2002 82.3%
2003 38.1% -53.7%
2009 85.4% +124.0%
2010 73.0% -14.5%
2011 80.0% +9.6%
2012 70.1% -12.3%
2013 85.9% +22.4%
2014 76.6% -10.7%
2017 72.0% -6.0%
2019 77.7% +7.9%
2021 79.4% +2.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 68.6% 38.1% 85.4% 3
2010s 76.5% 70.1% 85.9% 7
2020s 79.4% 79.4% 79.4% 1

Countries ranked near Uganda

  1. 9 Cambodia 80.0% compare
  2. 10 Niger 79.6% compare
  3. 11 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 79.6% compare
  4. 13 Mozambique 78.8% compare
  5. 14 Burundi 78.6% compare
  6. 15 Rwanda 76.8% compare

See the full ranking of 232 places →

More work & labour data for Uganda

All data for Uganda →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Uganda?
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Uganda was 79.4% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Uganda?
The highest recorded value was 85.9% in 2013.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Uganda?
The lowest recorded value was 38.1% in 2003.
How does Uganda rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
Uganda ranks 12th out of 199 countries with data for 2021.
Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Uganda?
Over the last ten years it is down 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Uganda data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Uganda. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-total-percent-of-total-population-ages-15-national-estimate/uganda/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total 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
232 places, 5,713 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.