Number of people employed in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)

Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Number of people employed was 320.75 million in 2011. ▲ Rising

Latest (2011)
320.75 million
Change on year
up 3.0%
Rank
3rd
of 6 groups
All-time high
320.75 million
in 2011
All-time low
180.27 million
in 1991
Years of data
21
1991–2011

Number of people employed in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 1991–2011

0100.0M200.0M300.0M1991200120111991: 180.3M1992: 185.9M1993: 190.9M1994: 197.6M1995: 203.7M1996: 208.9M1997: 214.8M1998: 220.6M1999: 226.7M2000: 233.4M2001: 239.7M2002: 247.1M2003: 254.5M2004: 262.9M2005: 270.8M2006: 278.7M2007: 287.0M2008: 295.5M2009: 303.3M2010: 311.5M2011: 320.8M

Source: International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.

Analysis

Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) recorded 320.75 million for number of people employed in 2011. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 33.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, number of people employed in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) peaked at 320.75 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 180.27 million, in 1991.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.

Number of people employed in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), year by year

Annual values for Number of people employed in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 1991 to 2011.
Year Value Change
1991 180.27 million
1992 185.85 million +3.1%
1993 190.87 million +2.7%
1994 197.60 million +3.5%
1995 203.75 million +3.1%
1996 208.89 million +2.5%
1997 214.78 million +2.8%
1998 220.62 million +2.7%
1999 226.65 million +2.7%
2000 233.38 million +3.0%
2001 239.73 million +2.7%
2002 247.08 million +3.1%
2003 254.45 million +3.0%
2004 262.86 million +3.3%
2005 270.77 million +3.0%
2006 278.74 million +2.9%
2007 286.96 million +2.9%
2008 295.46 million +3.0%
2009 303.29 million +2.6%
2010 311.53 million +2.7%
2011 320.75 million +3.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 203.25 million 180.27 million 226.65 million 9
2000s 267.27 million 233.38 million 303.29 million 10
2010s 316.14 million 311.53 million 320.75 million 2

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)

  1. 1 Nigeria 48.51 million compare
  2. 2 Ethiopia 39.73 million compare
  3. 3 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 24.52 million compare
  4. 4 Egypt 24.39 million compare
  5. 5 Tanzania, United Republic of 20.11 million compare
  6. 6 Kenya 14.47 million compare

See the full ranking of 56 places →

More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) →

Frequently asked questions

What is number of people employed in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
Number of people employed in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) was 320.75 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 Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
The highest recorded value was 320.75 million in 2011.
What is the lowest number of people employed recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
The lowest recorded value was 180.27 million in 1991.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank for number of people employed?
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 3rd out of 6 groups with data for 2011.
Is number of people employed rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
Over the last ten years it is up 33.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 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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Number of people employed in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income). Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/number-of-people-employed/sub-saharan-africa-excluding-high-income/

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About this data

Indicator
Number of people employed
Source
International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
56 places, 1,176 data points, 1991–2011
Last refreshed

Total employment shows the total number employed ages 15 and over.