Labour dependency ratio in Western Africa

Western Africa: Labour dependency ratio was 1.33 in 2027. ▬ Flat

Latest (2027)
1.33
Change on year
down 1.1%
Rank
38th
of 87 groups
All-time high
1.55
in 2020
All-time low
1.33
in 2027
Years of data
37
1991–2027

Labour dependency ratio in Western Africa, 1991–2027

00.511.51991200920271991: 1.51992: 1.51993: 1.51994: 1.51995: 1.51996: 1.51997: 1.51998: 1.51999: 1.52000: 1.52001: 1.52002: 1.52003: 1.52004: 1.52005: 1.52006: 1.52007: 1.52008: 1.52009: 1.52010: 1.52011: 1.52012: 1.52013: 1.52014: 1.52015: 1.52016: 1.52017: 1.52018: 1.52019: 1.52020: 1.62021: 1.52022: 1.42023: 1.42024: 1.42025: 1.42026: 1.32027: 1.3

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

In 2027, labour dependency ratio in Western Africa stood at 1.33. That is the lowest value across all 37 years on record.

The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 12.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labour dependency ratio in Western Africa peaked at 1.55 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.33, in 2027.

That places Western Africa 38th out of 87 groups with data for 2027, putting it in the middle of the range.

Labour dependency ratio in Western Africa, year by year

Annual values for Labour dependency ratio (ILO modelled estimates) in Western Africa, 1991 to 2027.
Year Value Change
1991 1.51
1992 1.5 -0.9%
1993 1.49 -0.7%
1994 1.47 -1.0%
1995 1.47 -0.5%
1996 1.46 -0.2%
1997 1.46 -0.3%
1998 1.46 -0.2%
1999 1.46 +0.0%
2000 1.46 +0.1%
2001 1.46 +0.0%
2002 1.46 -0.1%
2003 1.46 +0.2%
2004 1.46 +0.2%
2005 1.47 +0.5%
2006 1.48 +0.3%
2007 1.48 +0.4%
2008 1.49 +0.3%
2009 1.49 +0.1%
2010 1.49 +0.3%
2011 1.5 +0.2%
2012 1.5 +0.3%
2013 1.5 +0.0%
2014 1.51 +0.9%
2015 1.52 +0.7%
2016 1.52 -0.5%
2017 1.52 +0.5%
2018 1.52 -0.3%
2019 1.51 -0.4%
2020 1.55 +2.4%
2021 1.51 -2.7%
2022 1.44 -4.6%
2023 1.39 -3.3%
2024 1.37 -1.2%
2025 1.36 -1.1%
2026 1.34 -1.1%
2027 1.33 -1.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 1.47 1.46 1.51 9
2000s 1.47 1.46 1.49 10
2010s 1.51 1.49 1.52 10
2020s 1.41 1.33 1.55 8

Countries ranked near Western Africa

  1. 35 Congo 2.01 compare
  2. 36 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 2 compare
  3. 37 Papua New Guinea 1.91 compare
  4. 38 Guyana 1.91 compare
  5. 39 Vanuatu 1.9 compare
  6. 40 Comoros 1.9 compare
  7. 41 Equatorial Guinea 1.88 compare

See the full ranking of 276 places →

More work & labour data for Western Africa

All data for Western Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is labour dependency ratio in Western Africa?
Labour dependency ratio in Western Africa was 1.33 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest labour dependency ratio recorded in Western Africa?
The highest recorded value was 1.55 in 2020.
What is the lowest labour dependency ratio recorded in Western Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 1.33 in 2027.
How does Western Africa rank for labour dependency ratio?
Western Africa ranks 38th out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
Is labour dependency ratio rising or falling in Western Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 12.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Western Africa 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 Western Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labour-dependency-ratio-ilo-modelled-estimates/western-africa/

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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.