LU4: Composite measure of labour underutilization in Africa: Low income

Africa: Low income: LU4: Composite measure of labour underutilization was 54,812 in 2027. ▲ Rising

Latest (2027)
54,812
Change on year
up 2.6%
Rank
26th
of 87 groups
All-time high
54,812
in 2027
All-time low
26,299
in 2005
Years of data
23
2005–2027

LU4: Composite measure of labour underutilization in Africa: Low income, 2005–2027

020.0k40.0k60.0k2005201620272005: 26.3k2006: 27.5k2007: 28.7k2008: 30.1k2009: 31.4k2010: 33.3k2011: 34.8k2012: 36.1k2013: 37.3k2014: 38.4k2015: 39.6k2016: 41.0k2017: 42.3k2018: 42.9k2019: 43.7k2020: 48.7k2021: 47.2k2022: 46.3k2023: 48.3k2024: 50.6k2025: 52.1k2026: 53.4k2027: 54.8k

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for lu4: composite measure of labour underutilization in Africa: Low income is 54,812, measured in 2027. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 29.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lu4: composite measure of labour underutilization in Africa: Low income peaked at 54,812 in 2027 and was at its lowest, 26,299, in 2005.

Africa: Low income ranks 26th of 87 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.

LU4: Composite measure of labour underutilization in Africa: Low income, year by year

Annual values for LU4: Composite measure of labour underutilization in Africa: Low income, 2005 to 2027.
Year Value Change
2005 26,299
2006 27,455 +4.4%
2007 28,721 +4.6%
2008 30,079 +4.7%
2009 31,364 +4.3%
2010 33,268 +6.1%
2011 34,820 +4.7%
2012 36,102 +3.7%
2013 37,334 +3.4%
2014 38,430 +2.9%
2015 39,607 +3.1%
2016 40,980 +3.5%
2017 42,342 +3.3%
2018 42,902 +1.3%
2019 43,710 +1.9%
2020 48,661 +11.3%
2021 47,220 -3.0%
2022 46,266 -2.0%
2023 48,295 +4.4%
2024 50,582 +4.7%
2025 52,122 +3.0%
2026 53,430 +2.5%
2027 54,812 +2.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 28,784 26,299 31,364 5
2010s 38,950 33,268 43,710 10
2020s 50,173 46,266 54,812 8

Countries ranked near Africa: Low income

  1. 23 Zambia 1,601 compare
  2. 24 Netherlands 1,251 compare
  3. 25 Sweden 1,073 compare
  4. 26 Poland 957.3 compare
  5. 27 Romania 749.62 compare
  6. 28 Jordan 721.46 compare
  7. 29 Serbia 702.93 compare

See the full ranking of 166 places →

More work & labour data for Africa: Low income

All data for Africa: Low income →

Frequently asked questions

What is lu4: composite measure of labour underutilization in Africa: Low income?
Lu4: composite measure of labour underutilization in Africa: Low income was 54,812 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest lu4: composite measure of labour underutilization recorded in Africa: Low income?
The highest recorded value was 54,812 in 2027.
What is the lowest lu4: composite measure of labour underutilization recorded in Africa: Low income?
The lowest recorded value was 26,299 in 2005.
How does Africa: Low income rank for lu4: composite measure of labour underutilization?
Africa: Low income ranks 26th out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
Is lu4: composite measure of labour underutilization rising or falling in Africa: Low income?
Over the last ten years it is up 29.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Africa: Low income data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU4: Composite measure of labour underutilization. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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LU4: Composite measure of labour underutilization in Africa: Low income. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/lu4-composite-measure-of-labour-underutilization/africa-low-income/

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About this data

Indicator
LU4: Composite measure of labour underutilization
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
166 places, 3,284 data points, 1991–2027
Last refreshed

With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. LU4 represents the share of the extended labour force that are in unemployment, time-related underemployment or the potential labour force. For more information, refer to the Labour Force Statistics (LFS and STLFS) database description.