Labor participation rate, male in Nigeria

Nigeria: Labor participation rate, male was 73.3% in 2011. ▼ Falling

Latest (2011)
73.3%
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
52nd
of 52 countries
All-time high
94.9%
in 1990
All-time low
71.7%
in 2004
Years of data
22
1990–2011

Labor participation rate, male in Nigeria, 1990–2011

0204060801001990200020111990: 94.9 % of male population ages 25-541991: 94.3 % of male population ages 25-541992: 93.6 % of male population ages 25-541993: 92.7 % of male population ages 25-541994: 91.8 % of male population ages 25-541995: 90.8 % of male population ages 25-541996: 89.6 % of male population ages 25-541997: 88.3 % of male population ages 25-541998: 86.9 % of male population ages 25-541999: 85.3 % of male population ages 25-542000: 80.9 % of male population ages 25-542001: 78.9 % of male population ages 25-542002: 76.6 % of male population ages 25-542003: 74.3 % of male population ages 25-542004: 71.7 % of male population ages 25-542005: 71.9 % of male population ages 25-542006: 72.1 % of male population ages 25-542007: 72.4 % of male population ages 25-542008: 72.6 % of male population ages 25-542009: 72.8 % of male population ages 25-542010: 73.1 % of male population ages 25-542011: 73.3 % of male population ages 25-54

Source: International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Measured in % of male population ages 25-54.

Analysis

Nigeria recorded 73.3% for labor participation rate, male in 2011.

The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and down 7.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor participation rate, male in Nigeria peaked at 94.9% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 71.7%, in 2004.

That places Nigeria 52nd out of 52 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

Labor participation rate, male in Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Labor participation rate, male (% of male population ages 25-54) in Nigeria, 1990 to 2011.
Year % of male population ages 25-54 Change
1990 94.9%
1991 94.3% -0.6%
1992 93.6% -0.7%
1993 92.7% -1.0%
1994 91.8% -1.0%
1995 90.8% -1.1%
1996 89.6% -1.3%
1997 88.3% -1.5%
1998 86.9% -1.6%
1999 85.3% -1.8%
2000 80.9% -5.2%
2001 78.9% -2.5%
2002 76.6% -2.8%
2003 74.3% -3.1%
2004 71.7% -3.4%
2005 71.9% +0.3%
2006 72.1% +0.3%
2007 72.4% +0.3%
2008 72.6% +0.3%
2009 72.8% +0.3%
2010 73.1% +0.3%
2011 73.3% +0.3%

Nigeria compared with similar countries

  • Nigeria's 73.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 93.0%, 79% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
  • Nigeria's 73.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 93.6%, 78% of the median. (46 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 90.8% 85.3% 94.9% 10
2000s 74.4% 71.7% 80.9% 10
2010s 73.2% 73.1% 73.3% 2

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 49 Sierra Leone 84.2% compare
  2. 50 South Africa 81.7% compare
  3. 51 Liberia 78.5% compare

See the full ranking of 58 places →

More work & labour data for Nigeria

All data for Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor participation rate, male in Nigeria?
Labor participation rate, male in Nigeria was 73.3% in 2011, according to International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
What is the highest labor participation rate, male recorded in Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 94.9% in 1990.
What is the lowest labor participation rate, male recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 71.7% in 2004.
How does Nigeria rank for labor participation rate, male?
Nigeria ranks 52nd out of 52 countries with data for 2011.
Is labor participation rate, male rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is down 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Nigeria data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database, published as part of Labor participation rate, male (% of male population ages 25-54). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor participation rate, male in Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-participation-rate-male-percent-of-male-population-ages-25-54/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor participation rate, male (% of male population ages 25-54)
Unit
% of male population ages 25-54
Source
International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
58 places, 1,270 data points, 1990–2011
Last refreshed

Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 25-54 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.