Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in Africa
Africa: Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) was 649,295 in 2027. ▲ Rising
Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in Africa, 1990–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in Africa is 649,295, measured in 2027. That is the highest value across all 38 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and up 31.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in Africa peaked at 649,295 in 2027 and was at its lowest, 242,161, in 1990.
That places Africa 18th out of 85 groups with data for 2027, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.
Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 242,161 | — |
| 1991 | 249,710 | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 257,517 | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 265,509 | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 274,042 | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 281,722 | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 288,967 | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 296,292 | +2.5% |
| 1998 | 304,293 | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 313,696 | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 321,845 | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 330,163 | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 338,396 | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 348,221 | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 358,293 | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 368,515 | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 378,613 | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 388,802 | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 398,403 | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 408,116 | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 418,693 | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 430,195 | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 439,026 | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 453,054 | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 461,908 | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 472,283 | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 483,342 | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 492,481 | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 504,005 | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 516,184 | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 520,734 | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 539,220 | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 559,451 | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 580,560 | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 597,716 | +3.0% |
| 2025 | 614,501 | +2.8% |
| 2026 | 631,729 | +2.8% |
| 2027 | 649,295 | +2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 277,391 | 242,161 | 313,696 | 10 |
| 2000s | 363,937 | 321,845 | 408,116 | 10 |
| 2010s | 467,117 | 418,693 | 516,184 | 10 |
| 2020s | 586,651 | 520,734 | 649,295 | 8 |
Countries ranked near Africa
More work & labour data for Africa
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.3661 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.3537 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.3781 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.4458 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.68 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 1.49 million 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1.04 million 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 1.93 million 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 1.89 million 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 3.81 million 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in Africa?
- Labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in Africa was 649,295 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest labour force (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 649,295 in 2027.
- What is the lowest labour force (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 242,161 in 1990.
- How does Africa rank for labour force (ilo modelled estimates)?
- Africa ranks 18th out of 85 groups with data for 2027.
- Is labour force (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 38 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
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. The labour force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.