Male labor force participation rate in Rwanda
Rwanda: Male labor force participation rate was 70.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Male labor force participation rate in Rwanda, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for male labor force participation rate in Rwanda is 70.6%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and up 4.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, male labor force participation rate in Rwanda peaked at 78.1% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 64.3%, in 2021.
Rwanda ranks 86th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Male labor force participation rate in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 74.0% | — |
| 1991 | 74.0% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 73.8% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 73.6% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 75.4% | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 78.1% | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 77.2% | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 76.4% | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 75.2% | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 73.9% | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 72.6% | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 71.5% | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 70.7% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 70.1% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 69.7% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 69.4% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 69.3% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 69.2% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 69.1% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 68.9% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 68.7% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 68.4% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 68.2% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 67.9% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 67.7% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 67.4% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 67.1% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 66.8% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 67.2% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 65.7% | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 69.3% | +5.4% |
| 2021 | 64.3% | -7.1% |
| 2022 | 66.1% | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 69.8% | +5.5% |
| 2024 | 70.5% | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 70.6% | +0.1% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 70.6% is below the median for low income countries, which is 76.1%, 93% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 70.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.1%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 75.2% | 73.6% | 78.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 70.0% | 68.9% | 72.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 67.5% | 65.7% | 68.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 68.4% | 64.3% | 70.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More work & labour data for Rwanda
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.267 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.2752 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2591 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.3518 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.32 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 6,483 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 15,403 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 16,639 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 16,140 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 32,779 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is male labor force participation rate in Rwanda?
- Male labor force participation rate in Rwanda was 70.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest male labor force participation rate recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 78.1% in 1995.
- What is the lowest male labor force participation rate recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.3% in 2021.
- How does Rwanda rank for male labor force participation rate?
- Rwanda ranks 86th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is male labor force participation rate rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Rwanda data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Male labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the male working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).