Labor participation rate, female in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Labor participation rate, female was 42.2% in 2011. ▲ Rising
Labor participation rate, female in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 1990–2011
Source: International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Measured in % of female population ages 65+.
Analysis
In 2011, labor participation rate, female in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) stood at 42.2%.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor participation rate, female in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) peaked at 43.1% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 39.2%, in 1990.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Labor participation rate, female in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | % of female population ages 65+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 39.2% | — |
| 1991 | 39.6% | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 40.1% | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 40.4% | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 40.5% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 40.5% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 40.5% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 40.7% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 41.0% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 41.3% | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 41.7% | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 42.0% | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 42.5% | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 43.0% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 43.1% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 43.0% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 42.9% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 42.7% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 42.6% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 42.6% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 42.4% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 42.2% | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 40.4% | 39.2% | 41.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.6% | 41.7% | 43.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.3% | 42.2% | 42.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- 1 Malawi 87.0% compare
- 2 Mozambique 77.4% compare
- 3 Zambia 69.4% compare
- 4 Central African Republic 67.4% compare
- 5 Zimbabwe 66.0% compare
- 6 Burundi 62.4% compare
- 7 Tanzania, United Republic of 61.6% compare
More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 53.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 75.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 70.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 49.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 51.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.5% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 86.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 65.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 66.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 71.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor participation rate, female in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Labor participation rate, female in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) was 42.2% in 2011, according to International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
- What is the highest labor participation rate, female recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 43.1% in 2004.
- What is the lowest labor participation rate, female recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.2% in 1990.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank for labor participation rate, female?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 4th out of 6 groups with data for 2011.
- Is labor participation rate, female rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 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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About this data
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.