Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) was 87.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Africa Western and Central, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Africa Western and Central is 87.9%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Africa Western and Central peaked at 87.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 82.0%, in 1990.
Africa Western and Central ranks 1st of 47 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 82.0% | — |
| 1991 | 82.2% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 82.5% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 82.6% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 83.0% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 83.0% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 83.1% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 83.3% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 83.4% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 83.7% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 83.9% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 84.1% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 84.5% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 84.6% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 84.8% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 84.8% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 85.1% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 85.4% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 85.4% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 85.3% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 85.5% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 85.3% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 85.4% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 85.2% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 85.0% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 85.0% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 84.7% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 84.8% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 84.6% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 84.5% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 84.2% | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 84.7% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 84.7% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 87.8% | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 87.9% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 87.9% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 82.9% | 82.0% | 83.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 84.8% | 83.9% | 85.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 85.0% | 84.5% | 85.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 86.2% | 84.2% | 87.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
More work & labour data for Africa Western and Central
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 49.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 72.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 67.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 54.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 52.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 68.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 73.3% (2025)
- Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) 14.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Africa Western and Central?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Africa Western and Central was 87.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 87.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 82.0% in 1990.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%)?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 1st out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.