Labor participation rate, total in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Labor participation rate, total was 71.4% in 2010. ▲ Rising
Labor participation rate, total in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–2010
Source: International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Measured in % of total population ages 25-34.
Analysis
In 2010, labor participation rate, total in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 71.4%. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor participation rate, total in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 71.4% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 64.5%, in 1990.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Labor participation rate, total in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total population ages 25-34 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 64.5% | — |
| 1991 | 64.9% | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 65.4% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 65.8% | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 66.4% | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 66.8% | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 67.2% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 67.6% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 67.9% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 68.2% | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 68.8% | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 69.3% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 69.7% | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 70.1% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 70.4% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 70.5% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 70.7% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 70.9% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 71.3% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 71.3% | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 71.4% | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 66.5% | 64.5% | 68.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 70.3% | 68.8% | 71.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 71.4% | 71.4% | 71.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 1 Malawi 97.4% compare
- 1 Tanzania, United Republic of 97.4% compare
- 3 Mozambique 96.3% compare
- 4 Rwanda 95.6% compare
- 5 Madagascar 95.2% compare
- 6 Burundi 94.9% compare
More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 239,462 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 70.23 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 564,978 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.5 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 5.73 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 11,723 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 4,279 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 66.21 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 3.04 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 2.92 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor participation rate, total in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Labor participation rate, total in Sub-Saharan Africa was 71.4% in 2010, according to International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
- What is the highest labor participation rate, total recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 71.4% in 2010.
- What is the lowest labor participation rate, total recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.5% in 1990.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for labor participation rate, total?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 3rd out of 6 groups with data for 2010.
- Is labor participation rate, total rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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, total (% of total population ages 25-34). 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 25-34 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.