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

Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa: Labor participation rate, total was 56.2% in 2011. ▲ Rising

Latest (2011)
56.2%
Change on year
down 0.4%
Rank
2nd
of 6 groups
All-time high
57.1%
in 2004
All-time low
53.9%
in 1990
Years of data
22
1990–2011

Labor participation rate, total in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa, 1990–2011

02040601990200020111990: 53.9 % of total population ages 65+1991: 54.1 % of total population ages 65+1992: 54.4 % of total population ages 65+1993: 54.6 % of total population ages 65+1994: 54.8 % of total population ages 65+1995: 54.9 % of total population ages 65+1996: 55 % of total population ages 65+1997: 55.2 % of total population ages 65+1998: 55.4 % of total population ages 65+1999: 55.5 % of total population ages 65+2000: 55.9 % of total population ages 65+2001: 56.2 % of total population ages 65+2002: 56.5 % of total population ages 65+2003: 56.8 % of total population ages 65+2004: 57.1 % of total population ages 65+2005: 57.1 % of total population ages 65+2006: 57.1 % of total population ages 65+2007: 57 % of total population ages 65+2008: 56.9 % of total population ages 65+2009: 56.7 % of total population ages 65+2010: 56.5 % of total population ages 65+2011: 56.2 % 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 Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa stood at 56.2%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 0.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor participation rate, total in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa peaked at 57.1% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 53.9%, in 1990.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 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 65+) in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa, 1990 to 2011.
Year % of total population ages 65+ Change
1990 53.9%
1991 54.1% +0.5%
1992 54.4% +0.5%
1993 54.6% +0.4%
1994 54.8% +0.3%
1995 54.9% +0.2%
1996 55.0% +0.2%
1997 55.2% +0.3%
1998 55.4% +0.4%
1999 55.5% +0.2%
2000 55.9% +0.7%
2001 56.2% +0.5%
2002 56.5% +0.6%
2003 56.8% +0.6%
2004 57.1% +0.5%
2005 57.1% -0.0%
2006 57.1% -0.0%
2007 57.0% -0.2%
2008 56.9% -0.2%
2009 56.7% -0.4%
2010 56.5% -0.4%
2011 56.2% -0.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 54.8% 53.9% 55.5% 10
2000s 56.7% 55.9% 57.1% 10
2010s 56.3% 56.2% 56.5% 2

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa

  1. 1 Malawi 90.8% compare
  2. 2 Mozambique 81.6% compare
  3. 3 Gambia 73.7% compare
  4. 4 Zambia 73.5% compare
  5. 5 Central African Republic 72.5% 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 56.2% in 2011, 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 57.1% in 2004.
What is the lowest labor participation rate, total recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 53.9% 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 2011.
Is labor participation rate, total rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.1%. 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 65+). 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 15 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-participation-rate-total-percent-of-total-population-ages-65/sub-saharan-africa-excluding-south-africa/

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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.