Number of people employed in Nigeria
Nigeria: Number of people employed was 48.51 million in 2011. ▲ Rising
Number of people employed in Nigeria, 1991–2011
Source: International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
Analysis
In 2011, number of people employed in Nigeria stood at 48.51 million. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.0% on the previous year and up 29.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people employed in Nigeria peaked at 48.51 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 29.49 million, in 1991.
That places Nigeria 1st out of 50 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 32.74 million | 29.49 million | 35.98 million | 9 |
| 2000s | 40.91 million | 36.86 million | 45.85 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.81 million | 47.11 million | 48.51 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More work & labour data for Nigeria
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 287,130 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 123,508 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 237,227 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 239,521 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 476,748 1000 No (2100)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (2023)
- Criminal penalties or civil remedies sexual harassment in employment 1 (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 82.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 84.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people employed in Nigeria?
- Number of people employed in Nigeria was 48.51 million in 2011, according to International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
- What is the highest number of people employed recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 48.51 million in 2011.
- What is the lowest number of people employed recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.49 million in 1991.
- How does Nigeria rank for number of people employed?
- Nigeria ranks 1st out of 50 countries with data for 2011.
- Is number of people employed rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database, published as part of Number of people employed. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total employment shows the total number employed ages 15 and over.