Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS was 87.6% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2004–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Sub-Saharan Africa is 87.6%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 91.3% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 87.5%, in 2019.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 4th of 36 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 91.3% | — |
| 2005 | 91.2% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 91.0% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 90.7% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 90.5% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 90.4% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 90.0% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 89.6% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 89.0% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 88.8% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 88.4% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 88.2% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 87.9% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 87.8% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 87.6% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 87.5% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 87.7% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 88.6% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 88.3% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 88.1% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 87.9% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 87.6% | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 90.8% | 90.4% | 91.3% | 6 |
| 2010s | 88.5% | 87.5% | 90.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 88.0% | 87.6% | 88.6% | 6 |
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 informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls in Sub-Saharan Africa was 87.6% 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 Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 91.3% in 2004.
- What is the lowest proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 87.5% in 2019.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 4th out of 36 groups with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th icls rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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