Labour dependency ratio in Nigeria

Nigeria: Labour dependency ratio was 1.07 in 2027. ▬ Flat

Latest (2027)
1.07
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
135th
of 188 countries
All-time high
1.34
in 2020
All-time low
1.07
in 2027
Years of data
37
1991–2027

Labour dependency ratio in Nigeria, 1991–2027

00.511.51991200920271991: 1.31992: 1.31993: 1.31994: 1.21995: 1.21996: 1.21997: 1.21998: 1.21999: 1.22000: 1.22001: 1.22002: 1.22003: 1.22004: 1.22005: 1.32006: 1.32007: 1.32008: 1.32009: 1.32010: 1.32011: 1.32012: 1.32013: 1.32014: 1.32015: 1.32016: 1.32017: 1.32018: 1.32019: 1.32020: 1.32021: 1.32022: 1.22023: 1.12024: 1.12025: 1.12026: 1.12027: 1.1

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

In 2027, labour dependency ratio in Nigeria stood at 1.07. That is the lowest value across all 37 years on record.

That represents a change of down 1.4% on the previous year and down 18.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labour dependency ratio in Nigeria peaked at 1.34 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.07, in 2027.

That places Nigeria 135th out of 188 countries with data for 2027, putting it in the middle of the range.

Labour dependency ratio in Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Labour dependency ratio (ILO modelled estimates) in Nigeria, 1991 to 2027.
Year Value Change
1991 1.3
1992 1.28 -1.9%
1993 1.26 -1.1%
1994 1.24 -1.7%
1995 1.23 -0.8%
1996 1.23 -0.2%
1997 1.22 -0.5%
1998 1.22 -0.3%
1999 1.22 -0.2%
2000 1.22 +0.3%
2001 1.22 +0.3%
2002 1.23 +0.2%
2003 1.24 +0.7%
2004 1.24 +0.6%
2005 1.26 +1.1%
2006 1.27 +0.8%
2007 1.28 +0.8%
2008 1.29 +0.7%
2009 1.29 +0.4%
2010 1.3 +0.7%
2011 1.31 +0.5%
2012 1.31 +0.2%
2013 1.31 +0.4%
2014 1.32 +0.4%
2015 1.32 +0.1%
2016 1.32 +0.0%
2017 1.31 -0.3%
2018 1.31 -0.7%
2019 1.29 -0.9%
2020 1.34 +3.5%
2021 1.29 -3.7%
2022 1.2 -6.7%
2023 1.14 -5.6%
2024 1.12 -1.6%
2025 1.1 -1.4%
2026 1.09 -1.5%
2027 1.07 -1.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 1.24 1.22 1.3 9
2000s 1.25 1.22 1.29 10
2010s 1.31 1.29 1.32 10
2020s 1.17 1.07 1.34 8

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 132 Austria 1.08 compare
  2. 133 Brazil 1.07 compare
  3. 133 Ecuador 1.07 compare
  4. 136 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1.07 compare
  5. 136 Saudi Arabia 1.07 compare
  6. 138 Paraguay 1.07 compare

See the full ranking of 276 places →

More work & labour data for Nigeria

All data for Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is labour dependency ratio in Nigeria?
Labour dependency ratio in Nigeria was 1.07 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest labour dependency ratio recorded in Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 1.34 in 2020.
What is the lowest labour dependency ratio recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 1.07 in 2027.
How does Nigeria rank for labour dependency ratio?
Nigeria ranks 135th out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
Is labour dependency ratio rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is down 18.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Nigeria data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour dependency ratio (ILO modelled estimates). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labour dependency ratio in Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labour-dependency-ratio-ilo-modelled-estimates/nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
Labour dependency ratio (ILO modelled estimates)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
276 places, 10,188 data points, 1991–2027
Last refreshed

Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. This indicator provides the ratio of dependents (persons aged 0 to 14 + persons aged 15 and above that are either outside the labour force or unemployed) to total employment. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.