Time-related underemployment (ILO modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Time-related underemployment (ILO modelled estimates) was 55,250 in 2027. ▲ Rising
Time-related underemployment (ILO modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2005–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2027, time-related underemployment (ilo modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 55,250. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.0% on the previous year and up 27.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, time-related underemployment (ilo modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 55,250 in 2027 and was at its lowest, 25,967, in 2005.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 11th of 87 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Time-related underemployment (ILO modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 25,967 | — |
| 2006 | 27,030 | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 28,365 | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 29,764 | +4.9% |
| 2009 | 31,357 | +5.3% |
| 2010 | 32,898 | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 34,592 | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 36,157 | +4.5% |
| 2013 | 38,192 | +5.6% |
| 2014 | 39,270 | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 40,651 | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 41,987 | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 43,242 | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 44,050 | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 44,740 | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 48,103 | +7.5% |
| 2021 | 47,907 | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 48,171 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 49,048 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 50,578 | +3.1% |
| 2025 | 52,110 | +3.0% |
| 2026 | 53,663 | +3.0% |
| 2027 | 55,250 | +3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 28,497 | 25,967 | 31,357 | 5 |
| 2010s | 39,578 | 32,898 | 44,740 | 10 |
| 2020s | 50,604 | 47,907 | 55,250 | 8 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 8 Tanzania, United Republic of 4,672 compare
- 9 Philippines 3,771 compare
- 10 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 2,972 compare
- 11 Kenya 2,811 compare
- 12 Argentina 2,648 compare
- 13 Benin 2,625 compare
- 14 Türkiye 2,426 compare
More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 564,978 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 70.23 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 239,462 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 66.21 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 2.92 % change on previous year (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 3.04 % change on previous year (2027)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 86.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 71.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 65.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is time-related underemployment (ilo modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Time-related underemployment (ilo modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa was 55,250 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest time-related underemployment (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 55,250 in 2027.
- What is the lowest time-related underemployment (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 25,967 in 2005.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for time-related underemployment (ilo modelled estimates)?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 11th out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
- Is time-related underemployment (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Time-related underemployment (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. Persons in time-related underemployment comprise all persons in employment, who satisfy the following three criteria during the reference period: a) are willing to work additional hours; b) are available to work additional hours i.e., are ready, within a specified subsequent period, to work additional hours, given opportunities for additional work; and c) worked less than a threshold relating to working time i.e., persons whose hours actually worked in all jobs during the reference period were below a threshold, to be chosen according to national circumstances. For details, refer to the Resolution concerning the measurement of underemployment and inadequate employment situations. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.