Labor force participation rate in Mali
Mali: Labor force participation rate was 67.0% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
67.0%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
45th
of 186 countries
All-time high
70.6%
in 2014
All-time low
65.9%
in 2020
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Mali, 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 Mali stood at 67.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Mali peaked at 70.6% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 65.9%, in 2020.
That places Mali 45th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
Labor force participation rate in Mali, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 70.3% | — |
| 1991 | 70.4% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 70.4% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 70.4% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 70.4% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 70.4% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 70.4% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 70.4% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 70.3% | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 70.3% | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 70.3% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 70.3% | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 70.2% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 70.2% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 70.2% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 70.2% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 70.3% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 70.3% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 70.3% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 70.4% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 70.4% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 70.5% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 70.5% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 70.6% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 70.6% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 70.6% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 69.9% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 69.2% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 68.3% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 67.4% | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 65.9% | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 66.8% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 67.2% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 67.2% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 67.2% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 67.0% | -0.2% |
Mali compared with similar countries
- Mali's 67.0% is above the median for low income countries, which is 67.0%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Mali's 67.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 64.3%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 70.4% | 70.3% | 70.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 70.3% | 70.2% | 70.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.8% | 67.4% | 70.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 66.9% | 65.9% | 67.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mali
- 42 Kenya 67.4% compare
- 43 Netherlands 67.2% compare
- 44 Cote d'Ivoire 67.1% compare
- 46 East Timor 67.0% compare
- 47 Cyprus 67.0% compare
- 48 Switzerland 66.7% compare
More work & labour data for Mali
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.3916 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.3606 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4218 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.5389 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.02 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 27,825 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 16,195 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 40,192 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 39,162 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 79,354 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Mali?
- Labor force participation rate in Mali was 67.0% 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 Mali?
- The highest recorded value was 70.6% in 2014.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Mali?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.9% in 2020.
- How does Mali rank for labor force participation rate?
- Mali ranks 45th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Mali?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Mali 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).