Labor participation rate, total in Africa

Africa: Labor participation rate, total was 54.4% in 2010. ▲ Rising

Latest (2010)
54.4%
Change on year
down 0.6%
Rank
5th
of 6 groups
All-time high
54.9%
in 2008
All-time low
49.9%
in 1990
Years of data
21
1990–2010

Labor participation rate, total in Africa, 1990–2010

02040601990200020101990: 49.9 % of total population ages 55-641991: 49.9 % of total population ages 55-641992: 50.8 % of total population ages 55-641993: 51 % of total population ages 55-641994: 51.4 % of total population ages 55-641995: 51.5 % of total population ages 55-641996: 51.5 % of total population ages 55-641997: 51.8 % of total population ages 55-641998: 52 % of total population ages 55-641999: 52 % of total population ages 55-642000: 52.4 % of total population ages 55-642001: 52.6 % of total population ages 55-642002: 52.8 % of total population ages 55-642003: 53.4 % of total population ages 55-642004: 53.9 % of total population ages 55-642005: 54.2 % of total population ages 55-642006: 54.3 % of total population ages 55-642007: 54.8 % of total population ages 55-642008: 54.9 % of total population ages 55-642009: 54.7 % of total population ages 55-642010: 54.4 % of total population ages 55-64

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

Analysis

In 2010, labor participation rate, total in Africa stood at 54.4%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and up 3.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor participation rate, total in Africa peaked at 54.9% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 49.9%, in 1990.

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 55-64) in Africa, 1990 to 2010.
Year % of total population ages 55-64 Change
1990 49.9%
1991 49.9% +0.0%
1992 50.8% +1.9%
1993 51.0% +0.4%
1994 51.4% +0.7%
1995 51.5% +0.2%
1996 51.5% +0.1%
1997 51.8% +0.4%
1998 52.0% +0.5%
1999 52.0% -0.0%
2000 52.4% +0.7%
2001 52.6% +0.5%
2002 52.8% +0.2%
2003 53.4% +1.2%
2004 53.9% +1.0%
2005 54.2% +0.5%
2006 54.3% +0.2%
2007 54.8% +1.0%
2008 54.9% +0.2%
2009 54.7% -0.3%
2010 54.4% -0.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 51.2% 49.9% 52.0% 10
2000s 53.8% 52.4% 54.9% 10
2010s 54.4% 54.4% 54.4% 1

Countries ranked near Africa

  1. 2 Madagascar 96.7% compare
  2. 3 Tanzania, United Republic of 94.3% compare
  3. 4 Rwanda 92.1% compare
  4. 5 Mozambique 91.9% compare
  5. 6 Burundi 91.5% compare
  6. 7 Equatorial Guinea 91.0% compare
  7. 8 Uganda 88.9% 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 54.4% 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 54.9% in 2008.
What is the lowest labor participation rate, total recorded in Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 49.9% in 1990.
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 3.9%. 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 55-64). 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 06 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-participation-rate-total-percent-of-total-population-ages-55-64/africa/

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About this data

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