Labor force participation rate in Rwanda
Rwanda: Labor force participation rate was 63.7% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
63.7%
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
78th
of 186 countries
All-time high
63.8%
in 1995
All-time low
58.2%
in 2021
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Rwanda, 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 Rwanda stood at 63.7%.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Rwanda peaked at 63.8% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 58.2%, in 2021.
Rwanda ranks 78th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 62.8% | — |
| 1991 | 62.8% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 62.8% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 62.7% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 63.1% | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 63.8% | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 63.5% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 63.2% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 62.9% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 62.5% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 62.1% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 61.8% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 61.5% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 61.4% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 61.3% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 61.2% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 61.1% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 61.1% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 61.1% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 61.1% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 61.0% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 60.9% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 60.9% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 60.8% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 60.7% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 60.6% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 60.6% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 60.5% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 60.4% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 58.5% | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 62.7% | +7.2% |
| 2021 | 58.2% | -7.1% |
| 2022 | 60.2% | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 63.7% | +5.8% |
| 2024 | 63.5% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 63.7% | +0.3% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 63.7% is below the median for low income countries, which is 67.0%, 95% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 63.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 64.3%, 99% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 63.0% | 62.5% | 63.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 61.4% | 61.1% | 62.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.5% | 58.5% | 61.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.0% | 58.2% | 63.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More work & labour data for Rwanda
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.267 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.2752 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2591 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.3518 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.32 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 6,483 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 15,403 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 16,639 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 16,140 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 32,779 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Rwanda?
- Labor force participation rate in Rwanda was 63.7% 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 63.8% in 1995.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 58.2% in 2021.
- How does Rwanda rank for labor force participation rate?
- Rwanda ranks 78th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).