Proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with was 63.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2011–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 63.0% for proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with in 2024. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 14.8% on the previous year and up 57.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 63.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 27.4%, in 2011.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 32nd out of 38 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 27.4% | — |
| 2014 | 39.9% | +45.6% |
| 2017 | 47.0% | +17.6% |
| 2021 | 54.9% | +16.8% |
| 2024 | 63.0% | +14.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 38.1% | 27.4% | 47.0% | 3 |
| 2020s | 58.9% | 54.9% | 63.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 239,462 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 70.23 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 564,978 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.5 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 5.73 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 11,723 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 4,279 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 66.21 (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with in Sub-Saharan Africa was 63.0% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 63.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.4% in 2011.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 32nd out of 38 groups with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 57.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of adults (15 years and older) active in labor force with an account at a financial institution or mobile-money-service provider (% of adults aged 15 years and older). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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