Labor participation rate, total in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa: Labor participation rate, total was 70.0% in 2010. ▲ Rising

Latest (2010)
70.0%
Change on year
up 0.2%
Rank
2nd
of 6 groups
All-time high
70.0%
in 2010
All-time low
63.5%
in 1990
Years of data
21
1990–2010

Labor participation rate, total in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa, 1990–2010

02040601990200020101990: 63.5 % of total population ages 55-641991: 64 % of total population ages 55-641992: 64.5 % of total population ages 55-641993: 64.8 % of total population ages 55-641994: 65 % of total population ages 55-641995: 65.2 % of total population ages 55-641996: 65.2 % of total population ages 55-641997: 65.5 % of total population ages 55-641998: 65.9 % of total population ages 55-641999: 66.1 % of total population ages 55-642000: 66.8 % of total population ages 55-642001: 67.4 % of total population ages 55-642002: 68 % of total population ages 55-642003: 68.7 % of total population ages 55-642004: 69.3 % of total population ages 55-642005: 69.6 % of total population ages 55-642006: 69.8 % of total population ages 55-642007: 69.8 % of total population ages 55-642008: 69.8 % of total population ages 55-642009: 69.8 % of total population ages 55-642010: 70 % 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

The most recent figure for labor participation rate, total in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa is 70.0%, measured in 2010. 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 4.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor participation rate, total in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa peaked at 70.0% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 63.5%, 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 South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Labor participation rate, total (% of total population ages 55-64) in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa, 1990 to 2010.
Year % of total population ages 55-64 Change
1990 63.5%
1991 64.0% +0.7%
1992 64.5% +0.8%
1993 64.8% +0.5%
1994 65.0% +0.4%
1995 65.2% +0.2%
1996 65.2% +0.1%
1997 65.5% +0.5%
1998 65.9% +0.6%
1999 66.1% +0.3%
2000 66.8% +1.0%
2001 67.4% +0.9%
2002 68.0% +1.0%
2003 68.7% +1.0%
2004 69.3% +0.9%
2005 69.6% +0.5%
2006 69.8% +0.2%
2007 69.8% +0.0%
2008 69.8% -0.0%
2009 69.8% +0.0%
2010 70.0% +0.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 65.0% 63.5% 66.1% 10
2000s 68.9% 66.8% 69.8% 10
2010s 70.0% 70.0% 70.0% 1

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa

  1. 1 Malawi 96.7% compare
  2. 2 Madagascar 96.7% compare
  3. 3 Tanzania, United Republic of 94.3% compare
  4. 4 Rwanda 92.1% compare
  5. 5 Mozambique 91.9% compare

See the full ranking of 58 places →

More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor participation rate, total in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?
Labor participation rate, total in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa was 70.0% 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 South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 70.0% in 2010.
What is the lowest labor participation rate, total recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 63.5% in 1990.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa rank for labor participation rate, total?
Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa ranks 2nd out of 6 groups with data for 2010.
Is labor participation rate, total rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South 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 Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-participation-rate-total-percent-of-total-population-ages-55-64/sub-saharan-africa-excluding-south-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.