Labor participation rate, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Labor participation rate, total was 72.4% in 2010. ▲ Rising
Labor participation rate, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 1990–2010
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 Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) stood at 72.4%. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor participation rate, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) peaked at 72.4% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 66.5%, 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 (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | % of total population ages 25-54 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 66.5% | — |
| 1991 | 66.9% | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 67.5% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 67.9% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 68.4% | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 68.7% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 69.0% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 69.3% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 69.7% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 70.0% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 69.9% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 70.4% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 70.8% | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 71.1% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 71.4% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 71.5% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 71.7% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 71.9% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 72.2% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 72.2% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 72.4% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 68.4% | 66.5% | 70.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 71.3% | 69.9% | 72.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 72.4% | 72.4% | 72.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- 1 Malawi 97.7% compare
- 2 Tanzania, United Republic of 96.9% compare
- 3 Mozambique 96.5% compare
- 4 Rwanda 95.9% compare
- 5 Madagascar 95.6% compare
- 6 Burundi 95.3% compare
- 7 Equatorial Guinea 94.7% compare
More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 53.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 75.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 70.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 49.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 51.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.5% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 86.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 65.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 66.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 71.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor participation rate, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Labor participation rate, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) was 72.4% 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 (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 72.4% in 2010.
- What is the lowest labor participation rate, total recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.5% in 1990.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank for labor participation rate, total?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 4th out of 6 groups with data for 2010.
- Is labor participation rate, total rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 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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About this data
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.