Labor participation rate, total in Africa

Africa: Labor participation rate, total was 63.4% in 2010. ▲ Rising

Latest (2010)
63.4%
Change on year
up 0.2%
Rank
5th
of 6 groups
All-time high
63.4%
in 2010
All-time low
58.2%
in 1991
Years of data
21
1990–2010

Labor participation rate, total in Africa, 1990–2010

02040601990200020101990: 58.3 % of total population ages 25-541991: 58.2 % of total population ages 25-541992: 58.8 % of total population ages 25-541993: 59.1 % of total population ages 25-541994: 59.6 % of total population ages 25-541995: 59.8 % of total population ages 25-541996: 60 % of total population ages 25-541997: 60.2 % of total population ages 25-541998: 60.5 % of total population ages 25-541999: 60.7 % of total population ages 25-542000: 60.8 % of total population ages 25-542001: 61.3 % of total population ages 25-542002: 61.3 % of total population ages 25-542003: 61.8 % of total population ages 25-542004: 62.1 % of total population ages 25-542005: 62.3 % of total population ages 25-542006: 62.5 % of total population ages 25-542007: 63 % of total population ages 25-542008: 63.2 % of total population ages 25-542009: 63.3 % of total population ages 25-542010: 63.4 % of total population ages 25-54

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

Analysis

In 2010, labor participation rate, total in Africa stood at 63.4%. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 4.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor participation rate, total in Africa peaked at 63.4% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 58.2%, in 1991.

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

Labor participation rate, total in Africa, year by year

Annual values for Labor participation rate, total (% of total population ages 25-54) in Africa, 1990 to 2010.
Year % of total population ages 25-54 Change
1990 58.3%
1991 58.2% -0.1%
1992 58.8% +1.0%
1993 59.1% +0.5%
1994 59.6% +0.9%
1995 59.8% +0.2%
1996 60.0% +0.3%
1997 60.2% +0.4%
1998 60.5% +0.5%
1999 60.7% +0.4%
2000 60.8% +0.2%
2001 61.3% +0.8%
2002 61.3% -0.1%
2003 61.8% +0.8%
2004 62.1% +0.5%
2005 62.3% +0.3%
2006 62.5% +0.4%
2007 63.0% +0.7%
2008 63.2% +0.4%
2009 63.3% +0.1%
2010 63.4% +0.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 59.5% 58.2% 60.7% 10
2000s 62.2% 60.8% 63.3% 10
2010s 63.4% 63.4% 63.4% 1

Countries ranked near Africa

  1. 2 Tanzania, United Republic of 96.9% compare
  2. 3 Mozambique 96.5% compare
  3. 4 Rwanda 95.9% compare
  4. 5 Madagascar 95.6% compare
  5. 6 Burundi 95.3% compare
  6. 7 Equatorial Guinea 94.7% compare
  7. 8 Zimbabwe 93.8% 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, total in Africa?
Labor participation rate, total in Africa was 63.4% in 2010, according to International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
What is the highest labor participation rate, total recorded in Africa?
The highest recorded value was 63.4% in 2010.
What is the lowest labor participation rate, total recorded in Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 58.2% in 1991.
How does Africa rank for labor participation rate, total?
Africa ranks 5th out of 6 groups with data for 2010.
Is labor participation rate, total rising or falling in Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
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, total (% of total population ages 25-54). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor participation rate, total in Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-participation-rate-total-percent-of-total-population-ages-25-54/africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor participation rate, total (% of total population ages 25-54)
Unit
% of total 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.