Labor force, total in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Labor force, total was 299.26 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, total in Africa Eastern and Southern stood at 299.26 million. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 24.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 299.26 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 121.89 million, in 1990.
Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 30th of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 121.89 million | — |
| 1991 | 125.56 million | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 129.17 million | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 132.86 million | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 136.84 million | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 140.78 million | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 144.32 million | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 147.79 million | +2.4% |
| 1998 | 151.81 million | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 156.11 million | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 160.53 million | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 165.08 million | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 169.87 million | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 174.81 million | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 179.80 million | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 184.94 million | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 189.83 million | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 194.76 million | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 199.89 million | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 204.64 million | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 209.60 million | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 216.59 million | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 220.78 million | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 230.02 million | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 234.28 million | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 240.33 million | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 245.93 million | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 251.17 million | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 257.76 million | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 264.52 million | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 268.43 million | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 277.27 million | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 287.41 million | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 286.72 million | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 290.54 million | +1.3% |
| 2025 | 299.26 million | +3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 138.71 million | 121.89 million | 156.11 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 182.41 million | 160.53 million | 204.64 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 237.10 million | 209.60 million | 264.52 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 284.94 million | 268.43 million | 299.26 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
More education data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Population ages 0-14 40.0% (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 121.03 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1573 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 3.06 million (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 56.6% (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 46.07 million (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Labor force, total in Africa Eastern and Southern was 299.26 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 299.26 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 121.89 million in 1990.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for labor force, total?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 30th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. 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 comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.