Labor participation rate, male in Africa

Africa: Labor participation rate, male was 79.2% in 2010. ▼ Falling

Latest (2010)
79.2%
Change on year
down 0.8%
Rank
5th
of 6 groups
All-time high
85.7%
in 1992
All-time low
79.2%
in 2010
Years of data
21
1990–2010

Labor participation rate, male in Africa, 1990–2010

0204060801990200020101990: 85.1 % of male population ages 55-641991: 84.3 % of male population ages 55-641992: 85.7 % of male population ages 55-641993: 85.2 % of male population ages 55-641994: 85 % of male population ages 55-641995: 84.7 % of male population ages 55-641996: 84.3 % of male population ages 55-641997: 83.9 % of male population ages 55-641998: 83.3 % of male population ages 55-641999: 83.1 % of male population ages 55-642000: 82.2 % of male population ages 55-642001: 81.4 % of male population ages 55-642002: 81.2 % of male population ages 55-642003: 81.2 % of male population ages 55-642004: 81.2 % of male population ages 55-642005: 81.1 % of male population ages 55-642006: 80.8 % of male population ages 55-642007: 80.6 % of male population ages 55-642008: 80.2 % of male population ages 55-642009: 79.8 % of male population ages 55-642010: 79.2 % of male population ages 55-64

Source: International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Measured in % of male population ages 55-64.

Analysis

In 2010, labor participation rate, male in Africa stood at 79.2%. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.

The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 3.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor participation rate, male in Africa peaked at 85.7% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 79.2%, in 2010.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.

Labor participation rate, male in Africa, year by year

Annual values for Labor participation rate, male (% of male population ages 55-64) in Africa, 1990 to 2010.
Year % of male population ages 55-64 Change
1990 85.1%
1991 84.3% -0.9%
1992 85.7% +1.6%
1993 85.2% -0.5%
1994 85.0% -0.3%
1995 84.7% -0.3%
1996 84.3% -0.5%
1997 83.9% -0.5%
1998 83.3% -0.7%
1999 83.1% -0.2%
2000 82.2% -1.1%
2001 81.4% -1.0%
2002 81.2% -0.2%
2003 81.2% -0.0%
2004 81.2% -0.1%
2005 81.1% -0.1%
2006 80.8% -0.3%
2007 80.6% -0.4%
2008 80.2% -0.4%
2009 79.8% -0.5%
2010 79.2% -0.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 84.5% 83.1% 85.7% 10
2000s 81.0% 79.8% 82.2% 10
2010s 79.2% 79.2% 79.2% 1

Countries ranked near Africa

  1. 2 Madagascar 98.0% compare
  2. 3 Tanzania, United Republic of 96.5% compare
  3. 4 Ethiopia 95.6% compare
  4. 5 Equatorial Guinea 95.5% compare
  5. 6 Mozambique 94.4% compare
  6. 7 Chad 94.4% compare
  7. 8 Gambia 94.2% 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, male in Africa?
Labor participation rate, male in Africa was 79.2% in 2010, according to International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
What is the highest labor participation rate, male recorded in Africa?
The highest recorded value was 85.7% in 1992.
What is the lowest labor participation rate, male recorded in Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 79.2% in 2010.
How does Africa rank for labor participation rate, male?
Africa ranks 5th out of 6 groups with data for 2010.
Is labor participation rate, male rising or falling in Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
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, male (% of male population ages 55-64). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor participation rate, male in Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-participation-rate-male-percent-of-male-population-ages-55-64/africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor participation rate, male (% of male population ages 55-64)
Unit
% of male population ages 55-64
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 55-64 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.