Labor participation rate, female in Africa

Africa: Labor participation rate, female was 33.7% in 2011. ▲ Rising

Latest (2011)
33.7%
Change on year
down 0.6%
Rank
5th
of 6 groups
All-time high
33.8%
in 2010
All-time low
32.0%
in 1996
Years of data
22
1990–2011

Labor participation rate, female in Africa, 1990–2011

01020301990200020111990: 32 % of female population ages 65+1991: 32.2 % of female population ages 65+1992: 32.1 % of female population ages 65+1993: 32.1 % of female population ages 65+1994: 32.1 % of female population ages 65+1995: 32.1 % of female population ages 65+1996: 32 % of female population ages 65+1997: 32.1 % of female population ages 65+1998: 32.3 % of female population ages 65+1999: 32.5 % of female population ages 65+2000: 32.8 % of female population ages 65+2001: 32.9 % of female population ages 65+2002: 33.1 % of female population ages 65+2003: 33.5 % of female population ages 65+2004: 33.5 % of female population ages 65+2005: 33.5 % of female population ages 65+2006: 33.4 % of female population ages 65+2007: 33.6 % of female population ages 65+2008: 33.5 % of female population ages 65+2009: 33.5 % of female population ages 65+2010: 33.8 % of female population ages 65+2011: 33.7 % of female population ages 65+

Source: International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Measured in % of female population ages 65+.

Analysis

The most recent figure for labor participation rate, female in Africa is 33.7%, measured in 2011.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and up 2.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor participation rate, female in Africa peaked at 33.8% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 32.0%, in 1996.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.

Labor participation rate, female in Africa, year by year

Annual values for Labor participation rate, female (% of female population ages 65+) in Africa, 1990 to 2011.
Year % of female population ages 65+ Change
1990 32.0%
1991 32.2% +0.8%
1992 32.1% -0.6%
1993 32.1% -0.0%
1994 32.1% -0.0%
1995 32.1% +0.0%
1996 32.0% -0.3%
1997 32.1% +0.4%
1998 32.3% +0.6%
1999 32.5% +0.7%
2000 32.8% +0.8%
2001 32.9% +0.5%
2002 33.1% +0.6%
2003 33.5% +1.0%
2004 33.5% +0.2%
2005 33.5% -0.2%
2006 33.4% -0.1%
2007 33.6% +0.4%
2008 33.5% -0.1%
2009 33.5% -0.2%
2010 33.8% +1.2%
2011 33.7% -0.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 32.1% 32.0% 32.5% 10
2000s 33.3% 32.8% 33.6% 10
2010s 33.8% 33.7% 33.8% 2

Countries ranked near Africa

  1. 2 Mozambique 77.4% compare
  2. 3 Zambia 69.4% compare
  3. 4 Central African Republic 67.4% compare
  4. 5 Zimbabwe 66.0% compare
  5. 6 Burundi 62.4% compare
  6. 7 Tanzania, United Republic of 61.6% compare
  7. 8 Uganda 60.5% compare

See the full ranking of 58 places →

More work & labour data for Africa

All data for Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor participation rate, female in Africa?
Labor participation rate, female in Africa was 33.7% in 2011, according to International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
What is the highest labor participation rate, female recorded in Africa?
The highest recorded value was 33.8% in 2010.
What is the lowest labor participation rate, female recorded in Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 32.0% in 1996.
How does Africa rank for labor participation rate, female?
Africa ranks 5th out of 6 groups with data for 2011.
Is labor participation rate, female rising or falling in Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Africa data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database, published as part of Labor participation rate, female (% of female population ages 65+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor participation rate, female in Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-participation-rate-female-percent-of-female-population-ages-65/africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor participation rate, female (% of female population ages 65+)
Unit
% of female population ages 65+
Source
International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
58 places, 1,276 data points, 1990–2011
Last refreshed

Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 65 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. The participation rates are harmonized to account for differences in national data collection and tabulation methodologies as well as for other country-specific factors such as military service requirements. The series includes both nationally reported and imputed data and only estimates that are national, meaning there are no geographic limitations in coverage.