Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) was 86.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Sub-Saharan Africa, 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 Sub-Saharan Africa is 86.9%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 86.9% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 83.3%, in 1990.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd of 47 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 83.3% | — |
| 1991 | 83.5% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 83.7% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 83.8% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 84.2% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 84.4% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 84.3% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 84.3% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 84.4% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 84.7% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 84.9% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 85.0% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 85.3% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 85.5% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 85.7% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 85.8% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 85.9% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 85.9% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 85.9% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 85.8% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 85.7% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 85.7% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 85.4% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 85.6% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 85.3% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 85.1% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 84.8% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 84.6% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 84.3% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 84.0% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 83.6% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 83.8% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 83.9% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 86.7% | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 86.9% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 86.9% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 84.1% | 83.3% | 84.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 85.6% | 84.9% | 85.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 85.1% | 84.0% | 85.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 85.3% | 83.6% | 86.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 1 Burundi 103.3% compare
- 2 Republic of Moldova 100.1% compare
- 3 Benin 96.9% compare
- 4 Togo 95.9% compare
- 5 Mozambique 95.7% compare
More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 70.23 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 564,978 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 239,462 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 5.73 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 2.92 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.5 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 11,723 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 3.04 % change on previous year (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 66.21 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 4,279 (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Sub-Saharan Africa was 86.9% 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 Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 86.9% in 2025.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 83.3% in 1990.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%)?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa 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.
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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.