Male labor force participation rate in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Male labor force participation rate was 24.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Male labor force participation rate in Sao Tome and Principe, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sao Tome and Principe recorded 24.0% for male labor force participation rate in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, male labor force participation rate in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 27.8% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 23.6%, in 2020.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 186th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Male labor force participation rate in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 27.7% | — |
| 1991 | 27.8% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 27.8% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 27.8% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 27.7% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 27.6% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 27.4% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 27.1% | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 26.8% | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 26.4% | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 26.0% | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 25.7% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 25.6% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 25.5% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 25.4% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 25.3% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 25.3% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 25.3% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 25.4% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 25.4% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 25.4% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 25.3% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 25.3% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 25.3% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 25.3% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 25.2% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 25.1% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 24.8% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 24.5% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 24.1% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 23.6% | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 23.7% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 24.0% | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 24.0% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 24.0% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 24.0% | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 27.4% | 26.4% | 27.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.5% | 25.3% | 26.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.0% | 24.1% | 25.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.9% | 23.6% | 24.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
More work & labour data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.2544 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.2707 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2382 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.0643 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.73 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 323.75 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 56 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 271.01 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 263 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 534.01 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is male labor force participation rate in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Male labor force participation rate in Sao Tome and Principe was 24.0% 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 Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 27.8% in 1992.
- What is the lowest male labor force participation rate recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.6% in 2020.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for male labor force participation rate?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 186th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is male labor force participation rate rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe 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).