Labor participation rate, total in Nigeria

Nigeria: Labor participation rate, total was 53.9% in 2011. ▲ Rising

Latest (2011)
53.9%
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
21st
of 52 countries
All-time high
55.8%
in 2004
All-time low
43.0%
in 1990
Years of data
22
1990–2011

Labor participation rate, total in Nigeria, 1990–2011

02040601990200020111990: 43 % of total population ages 65+1991: 43.9 % of total population ages 65+1992: 44.8 % of total population ages 65+1993: 45.7 % of total population ages 65+1994: 46.6 % of total population ages 65+1995: 47.5 % of total population ages 65+1996: 48.5 % of total population ages 65+1997: 49.4 % of total population ages 65+1998: 50.3 % of total population ages 65+1999: 51.2 % of total population ages 65+2000: 52.1 % of total population ages 65+2001: 53 % of total population ages 65+2002: 54 % of total population ages 65+2003: 54.9 % of total population ages 65+2004: 55.8 % of total population ages 65+2005: 55.5 % of total population ages 65+2006: 55.2 % of total population ages 65+2007: 55 % of total population ages 65+2008: 54.7 % of total population ages 65+2009: 54.4 % of total population ages 65+2010: 54.1 % of total population ages 65+2011: 53.9 % of total population ages 65+

Source: International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Measured in % of total population ages 65+.

Analysis

In 2011, labor participation rate, total in Nigeria stood at 53.9%.

That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and up 1.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor participation rate, total in Nigeria peaked at 55.8% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 43.0%, in 1990.

Nigeria ranks 21st of 52 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.

Labor participation rate, total in Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Labor participation rate, total (% of total population ages 65+) in Nigeria, 1990 to 2011.
Year % of total population ages 65+ Change
1990 43.0%
1991 43.9% +2.1%
1992 44.8% +2.1%
1993 45.7% +2.0%
1994 46.6% +2.0%
1995 47.5% +1.9%
1996 48.5% +2.1%
1997 49.4% +1.9%
1998 50.3% +1.8%
1999 51.2% +1.8%
2000 52.1% +1.8%
2001 53.0% +1.8%
2002 54.0% +1.7%
2003 54.9% +1.7%
2004 55.8% +1.6%
2005 55.5% -0.5%
2006 55.2% -0.5%
2007 55.0% -0.5%
2008 54.7% -0.5%
2009 54.4% -0.5%
2010 54.1% -0.5%
2011 53.9% -0.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 47.1% 43.0% 51.2% 10
2000s 54.5% 52.1% 55.8% 10
2010s 54.0% 53.9% 54.1% 2

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 18 Cameroon 55.0% compare
  2. 19 Ethiopia 54.9% compare
  3. 20 Equatorial Guinea 54.6% compare
  4. 22 Ghana 52.0% compare
  5. 23 Senegal 51.0% compare
  6. 24 Congo 50.9% compare

See the full ranking of 58 places →

More work & labour data for Nigeria

All data for Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor participation rate, total in Nigeria?
Labor participation rate, total in Nigeria was 53.9% in 2011, according to International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
What is the highest labor participation rate, total recorded in Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 55.8% in 2004.
What is the lowest labor participation rate, total recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 43.0% in 1990.
How does Nigeria rank for labor participation rate, total?
Nigeria ranks 21st out of 52 countries with data for 2011.
Is labor participation rate, total rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Nigeria 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 65+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor participation rate, total in Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-participation-rate-total-percent-of-total-population-ages-65/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor participation rate, total (% of total population ages 65+)
Unit
% of total population ages 65+
Source
International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
58 places, 1,276 data points, 1990–2011
Last refreshed

Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 65 and older 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.