Number of people employed in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Number of people employed was 321.11 million in 2011. ▲ Rising
Number of people employed in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1991–2011
Source: International Labour Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people employed in Sub-Saharan Africa is 321.11 million, measured in 2011. 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 33.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people employed in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 321.11 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 180.46 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, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 180.46 million | — |
| 1992 | 186.05 million | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 191.07 million | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 197.81 million | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 203.96 million | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 209.11 million | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 215.00 million | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 220.85 million | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 226.89 million | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 233.62 million | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 239.99 million | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 247.34 million | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 254.72 million | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 263.14 million | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 271.06 million | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 279.05 million | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 287.28 million | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 295.79 million | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 303.62 million | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 311.88 million | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 321.11 million | +3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 203.47 million | 180.46 million | 226.89 million | 9 |
| 2000s | 267.56 million | 233.62 million | 303.62 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 316.49 million | 311.88 million | 321.11 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 1 Nigeria 48.51 million compare
- 2 Ethiopia 39.73 million compare
- 3 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 24.52 million compare
- 4 Egypt 24.39 million compare
- 5 Tanzania, United Republic of 20.11 million compare
More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 564,978 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 70.23 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 239,462 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 3.04 % change on previous year (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 66.21 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 2.92 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 66.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 49.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 51.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 53.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people employed in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Number of people employed in Sub-Saharan Africa was 321.11 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?
- The highest recorded value was 321.11 million in 2011.
- What is the lowest number of people employed recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 180.46 million in 1991.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for number of people employed?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd out of 6 groups with data for 2011.
- Is number of people employed rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- 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 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.