Labor participation rate, male in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa: Labor participation rate, male was 84.5% in 2010. ▬ Flat

Latest (2010)
84.5%
Change on year
down 0.3%
Rank
3rd
of 6 groups
All-time high
87.4%
in 1990
All-time low
84.5%
in 2010
Years of data
21
1990–2010

Labor participation rate, male in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–2010

0204060801990200020101990: 87.4 % of male population ages 55-641991: 87.2 % of male population ages 55-641992: 86.8 % of male population ages 55-641993: 86.5 % of male population ages 55-641994: 86.4 % of male population ages 55-641995: 86.3 % of male population ages 55-641996: 86.2 % of male population ages 55-641997: 85.9 % of male population ages 55-641998: 85.7 % of male population ages 55-641999: 85.4 % of male population ages 55-642000: 85.2 % of male population ages 55-642001: 85.1 % of male population ages 55-642002: 84.9 % of male population ages 55-642003: 84.8 % of male population ages 55-642004: 84.7 % of male population ages 55-642005: 84.8 % of male population ages 55-642006: 85 % of male population ages 55-642007: 85.1 % of male population ages 55-642008: 84.9 % of male population ages 55-642009: 84.7 % of male population ages 55-642010: 84.5 % 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

The most recent figure for labor participation rate, male in Sub-Saharan Africa is 84.5%, measured in 2010. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.

The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 0.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor participation rate, male in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 87.4% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 84.5%, in 2010.

Labor participation rate, male in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Labor participation rate, male (% of male population ages 55-64) in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990 to 2010.
Year % of male population ages 55-64 Change
1990 87.4%
1991 87.2% -0.3%
1992 86.8% -0.4%
1993 86.5% -0.3%
1994 86.4% -0.1%
1995 86.3% -0.1%
1996 86.2% -0.1%
1997 85.9% -0.3%
1998 85.7% -0.3%
1999 85.4% -0.3%
2000 85.2% -0.2%
2001 85.1% -0.2%
2002 84.9% -0.2%
2003 84.8% -0.2%
2004 84.7% -0.1%
2005 84.8% +0.2%
2006 85.0% +0.2%
2007 85.1% +0.2%
2008 84.9% -0.3%
2009 84.7% -0.2%
2010 84.5% -0.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 86.4% 85.4% 87.4% 10
2000s 84.9% 84.7% 85.2% 10
2010s 84.5% 84.5% 84.5% 1

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa

  1. 1 Malawi 98.5% compare
  2. 2 Madagascar 98.0% compare
  3. 3 Tanzania, United Republic of 96.5% compare
  4. 4 Ethiopia 95.6% compare
  5. 5 Equatorial Guinea 95.5% compare
  6. 6 Mozambique 94.4% compare

See the full ranking of 58 places →

More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor participation rate, male in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Labor participation rate, male in Sub-Saharan Africa was 84.5% in 2010, according to International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
What is the highest labor participation rate, male recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 87.4% in 1990.
What is the lowest labor participation rate, male recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 84.5% in 2010.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for labor participation rate, male?
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 3rd out of 6 groups with data for 2010.
Is labor participation rate, male rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Sub-Saharan 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 Sub-Saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-participation-rate-male-percent-of-male-population-ages-55-64/sub-saharan-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.