Labor force participation rate in Somalia
Somalia: Labor force participation rate was 33.8% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
33.8%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
183rd
of 186 countries
All-time high
34.5%
in 2008
All-time low
33.7%
in 2020
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Somalia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate in Somalia is 33.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Somalia peaked at 34.5% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 33.7%, in 2020.
That places Somalia 183rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Labor force participation rate in Somalia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 34.0% | — |
| 1991 | 34.0% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 33.9% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 33.8% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 33.9% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 33.9% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 34.0% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 34.0% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 34.0% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 34.1% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 34.1% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 34.1% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 34.1% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 34.2% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 34.2% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 34.3% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 34.4% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 34.5% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 34.5% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 34.5% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 34.4% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 34.3% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 34.2% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 34.2% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 34.2% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 34.2% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 34.1% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 34.1% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 34.1% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 34.0% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 33.7% | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 33.7% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 33.9% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 33.9% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 33.9% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 33.8% | -0.2% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 33.8% is below the median for low income countries, which is 67.0%, 50% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 33.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 64.3%, 53% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 34.0% | 33.8% | 34.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 34.3% | 34.1% | 34.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.2% | 34.0% | 34.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.8% | 33.7% | 33.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
More work & labour data for Somalia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.4652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4323 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4971 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.7917 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.22 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 22,865 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 12,986 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 34,351 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 33,013 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 67,364 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Somalia?
- Labor force participation rate in Somalia was 33.8% 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 Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 34.5% in 2008.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.7% in 2020.
- How does Somalia rank for labor force participation rate?
- Somalia ranks 183rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Somalia 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).