Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Kenya
Kenya: Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) was 67.32 in 2027. ▼ Falling
Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Kenya, 1990–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 67.32 for labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in 2027.
The figure is down 6.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Kenya peaked at 74.41 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 67.08, in 2020.
Kenya ranks 42nd of 188 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 38 years of available data.
Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 73 | — |
| 1991 | 72.94 | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 72.88 | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 72.81 | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 72.74 | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 72.67 | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 72.6 | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 72.53 | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 72.47 | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 72.39 | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 72.51 | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 72.63 | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 72.75 | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 72.87 | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 72.99 | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 73.11 | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 73.23 | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 73.35 | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 73.47 | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 73.59 | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 73.7 | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 73.82 | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 73.94 | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 74.06 | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 74.17 | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 74.29 | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 74.41 | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 72.31 | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 70.1 | -3.0% |
| 2019 | 67.8 | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 67.08 | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 67.46 | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 67.5 | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 67.46 | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 67.42 | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 67.39 | -0.0% |
| 2026 | 67.35 | -0.0% |
| 2027 | 67.32 | -0.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 67.32 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 57.46, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 67.32 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 64.13, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 72.7 | 72.39 | 73 | 10 |
| 2000s | 73.05 | 72.51 | 73.59 | 10 |
| 2010s | 72.86 | 67.8 | 74.41 | 10 |
| 2020s | 67.37 | 67.08 | 67.5 | 8 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 39 Zimbabwe 67.69 compare
- 40 East Timor 67.53 compare
- 41 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 67.45 compare
- 43 Cote d'Ivoire 67.05 compare
- 44 Macao 66.82 compare
- 45 Mali 66.81 compare
More work & labour data for Kenya
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.0278 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.0507 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.0073 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2281 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.98 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 44,185 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 51,282 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 53,727 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 50,468 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 104,196 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Kenya?
- Labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Kenya was 67.32 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 74.41 in 2016.
- What is the lowest labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 67.08 in 2020.
- How does Kenya rank for labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
- Kenya ranks 42nd out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
- Is labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour force participation rate (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 participation rate is the labour force as a percent of the working-age population. 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.