Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) was 239,462 in 2027. ▲ Rising
Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa is 239,462, measured in 2027. That is the highest value across all 38 years on record.
The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 38.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 239,462 in 2027 and was at its lowest, 70,930, in 1990.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 24th of 87 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.
Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 70,930 | — |
| 1991 | 72,632 | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 74,248 | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 76,260 | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 78,047 | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 79,937 | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 82,257 | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 84,614 | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 87,284 | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 90,054 | +3.2% |
| 2000 | 92,951 | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 95,912 | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 98,909 | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 102,038 | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 105,288 | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 108,651 | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 112,418 | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 116,458 | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 120,904 | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 126,104 | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 131,677 | +4.4% |
| 2011 | 135,516 | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 142,371 | +5.1% |
| 2013 | 144,895 | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 152,691 | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 158,848 | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 165,248 | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 173,320 | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 180,602 | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 188,155 | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 201,782 | +7.2% |
| 2021 | 206,029 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 208,527 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 211,889 | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 218,468 | +3.1% |
| 2025 | 225,427 | +3.2% |
| 2026 | 232,391 | +3.1% |
| 2027 | 239,462 | +3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 79,626 | 70,930 | 90,054 | 10 |
| 2000s | 107,963 | 92,951 | 126,104 | 10 |
| 2010s | 157,332 | 131,677 | 188,155 | 10 |
| 2020s | 217,997 | 201,782 | 239,462 | 8 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
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) (15+) 3.04 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 2.92 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 75.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 71.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 70.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.5% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 86.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 65.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa was 239,462 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 239,462 in 2027.
- What is the lowest persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 70,930 in 1990.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates)?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 24th out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
- Is persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.2%. 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, published as part of Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. Persons outside the labour force comprise all persons of working age who, during the specified reference period, were not in the labour force (that is, were not employed or unemployed). For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.