Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Labor force, female (% of total labor force) was 46.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force, female in Sub-Saharan Africa, 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 Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 46.9%.
The figure is up 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 46.9% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 45.9%, in 2020.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd of 47 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 46.0% | — |
| 1991 | 46.1% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 46.2% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 46.2% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 46.3% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 46.5% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 46.6% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 46.7% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 46.7% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 46.7% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 46.8% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 46.8% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 46.9% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 46.9% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 46.9% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 46.9% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 46.9% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 46.9% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 46.9% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 46.8% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 46.8% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 46.8% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 46.6% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 46.7% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 46.6% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 46.5% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 46.3% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 46.3% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 46.1% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 46.0% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 45.9% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 45.9% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 45.9% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 46.9% | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 46.9% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 46.9% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 46.4% | 46.0% | 46.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 46.9% | 46.8% | 46.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.5% | 46.0% | 46.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.4% | 45.9% | 46.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 1 Moldova 55.4% compare
- 2 United States Virgin Islands 51.9% compare
- 3 Mozambique 51.7% compare
- 4 Burundi 51.6% compare
- 5 Togo 51.3% compare
More education data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1526 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 196.80 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9738 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.14 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 81.43 million (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 56.4% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 40.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Labor force, female in Sub-Saharan Africa was 46.9% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, female recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 46.9% in 2006.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.9% in 2020.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for labor force, female?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa 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.