Labor force participation rate in Gabon
Gabon: Labor force participation rate was 51.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate in Gabon, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate in Gabon stood at 51.1%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Gabon peaked at 51.6% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 47.9%, in 2020.
Gabon ranks 158th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate in Gabon, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 48.5% | — |
| 1991 | 48.5% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 48.6% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 48.5% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 48.5% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 48.4% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 48.3% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 48.2% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 48.1% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 48.1% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 48.1% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 48.1% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 48.1% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 48.1% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 48.1% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 48.1% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 48.3% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 48.4% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 48.6% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 48.9% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 49.1% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 49.3% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 49.6% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 49.9% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 50.2% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 50.5% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 50.8% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 51.0% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 51.3% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 51.4% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 47.9% | -6.9% |
| 2021 | 48.5% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 51.6% | +6.3% |
| 2023 | 51.5% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 51.3% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 51.1% | -0.5% |
Gabon compared with similar countries
- Gabon's 51.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 60.5%, 84% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Gabon's 51.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 64.3%, 79% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 48.4% | 48.1% | 48.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.3% | 48.1% | 48.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.3% | 49.1% | 51.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.3% | 47.9% | 51.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Gabon
More work & labour data for Gabon
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.6318 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.6403 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.6237 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.4321 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.39 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 3,339 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 176.73 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 3,488 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 3,415 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 6,903 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Gabon?
- Labor force participation rate in Gabon was 51.1% 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 Gabon?
- The highest recorded value was 51.6% in 2022.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Gabon?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.9% in 2020.
- How does Gabon rank for labor force participation rate?
- Gabon ranks 158th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Gabon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Gabon 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).