Labor force participation rate in Gambia
Gambia: Labor force participation rate was 47.5% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
47.5%
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
164th
of 186 countries
All-time high
48.4%
in 2001
All-time low
47.5%
in 2025
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Gambia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Gambia recorded 47.5% for labor force participation rate in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Gambia peaked at 48.4% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 47.5%, in 2025.
That places Gambia 164th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Labor force participation rate in Gambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 48.2% | — |
| 1991 | 48.2% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 48.2% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 48.3% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 48.3% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 48.3% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 48.3% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 48.4% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 48.4% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 48.4% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 48.4% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 48.4% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 48.3% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 48.3% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 48.4% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 48.3% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 48.2% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 48.1% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 48.1% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 48.1% | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 48.1% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 48.0% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 47.9% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 47.9% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 47.9% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 47.8% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 47.8% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 47.8% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 47.8% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 47.8% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 47.7% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 47.6% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 47.6% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 47.5% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 47.5% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 47.5% | -0.1% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 47.5% is below the median for low income countries, which is 67.0%, 71% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 47.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 64.3%, 74% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 48.3% | 48.2% | 48.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.3% | 48.1% | 48.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.9% | 47.8% | 48.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.6% | 47.5% | 47.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More work & labour data for Gambia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0232 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.0132 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0328 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.0501 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.22 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 3,523 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,039 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,898 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,805 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,703 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Gambia?
- Labor force participation rate in Gambia was 47.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 48.4% in 2001.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.5% in 2025.
- How does Gambia rank for labor force participation rate?
- Gambia ranks 164th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Gambia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).