Labor force participation rate in Congo
Congo: Labor force participation rate was 67.8% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
67.8%
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
39th
of 186 countries
All-time high
68.7%
in 1990
All-time low
64.9%
in 2020
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Congo, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Congo recorded 67.8% for labor force participation rate in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Congo peaked at 68.7% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 64.9%, in 2020.
Congo ranks 39th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Labor force participation rate in Congo, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 68.7% | — |
| 1991 | 68.6% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 68.6% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 68.5% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 68.5% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 68.5% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 68.4% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 68.5% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 68.5% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 68.4% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 68.2% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 68.1% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 68.1% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 68.1% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 68.0% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 67.9% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 67.8% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 67.8% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 67.8% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 67.8% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 67.7% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 67.8% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 67.9% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 68.0% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 68.0% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 68.1% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 68.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 68.2% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 68.1% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 68.1% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 64.9% | -4.7% |
| 2021 | 65.5% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 67.9% | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 67.9% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 67.8% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 67.8% | -0.0% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 67.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 57.7%, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Congo's 67.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 64.3%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 68.5% | 68.4% | 68.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 68.0% | 67.8% | 68.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.0% | 67.7% | 68.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 67.0% | 64.9% | 67.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More work & labour data for Congo
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.6949 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.6877 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.7017 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2906 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.46 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 9,208 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 2,302 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 10,131 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 9,894 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 20,026 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Congo?
- Labor force participation rate in Congo was 67.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 68.7% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.9% in 2020.
- How does Congo rank for labor force participation rate?
- Congo ranks 39th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Congo data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).