Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Labor force, female (% of total labor force) was 48.4% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force, female in Nigeria, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database. Measured in % of total labor force.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, female in Nigeria stood at 48.4%.
The figure is up 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in Nigeria peaked at 48.4% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 46.4%, in 1990.
Nigeria ranks 31st of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 46.4% | — |
| 1991 | 46.5% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 46.6% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 46.6% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 46.8% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 46.8% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 46.8% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 46.8% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 46.8% | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 46.8% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 46.9% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 46.8% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 46.9% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 46.9% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 46.9% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 46.8% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 46.9% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 46.9% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 46.9% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 46.9% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 46.9% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 46.7% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 46.7% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 46.7% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 46.7% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 46.7% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 46.7% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 46.8% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 46.9% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 47.0% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 46.9% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 47.0% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 46.9% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 48.4% | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 48.4% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 48.4% | -0.0% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 48.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 43.6%, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 48.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 47.5%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 46.7% | 46.4% | 46.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 46.9% | 46.8% | 46.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.8% | 46.7% | 47.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.7% | 46.9% | 48.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More education data for Nigeria
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 912,245 (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.08 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.24 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.20 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 33.42 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.18 % change on previous year (2021)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1466 units per person (2023)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in Nigeria?
- Labor force, female in Nigeria was 48.4% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, female recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 48.4% in 2023.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.4% in 1990.
- How does Nigeria rank for labor force, female?
- Nigeria ranks 31st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, female (% of total labor force). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Female labor force as a percentage of the total show the extent to which women are active in the labor force. Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.