Labor force participation rate in Sudan
Sudan: Labor force participation rate was 37.5% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate in Sudan, 1990–2022
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sudan recorded 37.5% for labor force participation rate in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.2% on the previous year and down 21.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Sudan peaked at 51.8% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 37.5%, in 2022.
That places Sudan 180th out of 186 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate in Sudan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 50.1% | — |
| 1991 | 50.3% | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 50.5% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 50.8% | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 51.1% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 51.4% | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 51.8% | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 51.6% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 51.4% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 51.1% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 50.8% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 50.6% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 50.3% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 50.0% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 49.7% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 49.4% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 49.1% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 48.8% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 48.5% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 48.7% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 48.7% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 48.8% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 47.8% | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 46.8% | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 45.7% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 44.6% | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 43.5% | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 42.4% | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 41.4% | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 40.4% | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 39.1% | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 38.4% | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 37.5% | -2.2% |
Sudan compared with similar countries
- Sudan's 37.5% is below the median for low income countries, which is 67.0%, 56% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sudan's 37.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 64.3%, 58% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 51.0% | 50.1% | 51.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 49.6% | 48.5% | 50.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.0% | 40.4% | 48.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.3% | 37.5% | 39.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sudan
More work & labour data for Sudan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.4226 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4196 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4255 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2772 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.95 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 42,261 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 38,124 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 69,735 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 67,156 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 136,891 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Sudan?
- Labor force participation rate in Sudan was 37.5% in 2022, 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 Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 51.8% in 1996.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.5% in 2022.
- How does Sudan rank for labor force participation rate?
- Sudan ranks 180th out of 186 countries with data for 2022.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sudan 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).