Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in Africa
Africa: Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS was 84.4% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
84.4%
Change on year
down 0.3%
Rank
7th
of 36 groups
All-time high
86.0%
in 2004
All-time low
83.7%
in 2016
Years of data
22
2004–2025
Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in Africa, 2004–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2025, proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Africa stood at 84.4%.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and up 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Africa peaked at 86.0% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 83.7%, in 2016.
Africa ranks 7th of 36 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 86.0% | — |
| 2005 | 85.8% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 85.5% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 85.2% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 85.0% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 84.9% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 84.7% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 84.6% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 83.9% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 83.9% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 83.7% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 83.8% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 83.7% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 83.8% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 83.8% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 83.9% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 84.3% | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 85.2% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 85.0% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 85.0% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 84.7% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 84.4% | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 85.4% | 84.9% | 86.0% | 6 |
| 2010s | 84.0% | 83.7% | 84.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 84.7% | 84.3% | 85.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa
More work & labour data for Africa
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.68 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.3661 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.3537 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 3.81 million 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 1.89 million 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 1.93 million 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.4458 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1.04 million 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 1.49 million 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.3781 % change on previous year (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Africa?
- Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Africa was 84.4% in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls recorded in Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 86.0% in 2004.
- What is the lowest proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 83.7% in 2016.
- How does Africa rank for proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls?
- Africa ranks 7th out of 36 groups with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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