Labor force, total in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Labor force, total was 227.71 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Africa Western and Central, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force, total in Africa Western and Central is 227.71 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 33.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Africa Western and Central peaked at 227.71 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 85.97 million, in 1990.
Africa Western and Central ranks 34th 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 Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 85.97 million | — |
| 1991 | 88.71 million | +3.2% |
| 1992 | 91.69 million | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 94.61 million | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 97.68 million | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 100.69 million | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 103.55 million | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 106.53 million | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 109.63 million | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 112.84 million | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 115.96 million | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 119.17 million | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 122.43 million | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 125.71 million | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 129.15 million | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 132.57 million | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 136.04 million | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 139.59 million | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 143.12 million | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 146.82 million | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 150.46 million | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 154.43 million | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 158.39 million | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 162.18 million | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 166.01 million | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 170.25 million | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 175.16 million | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 179.42 million | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 184.26 million | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 189.20 million | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 191.46 million | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 198.70 million | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 206.67 million | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 214.63 million | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 221.21 million | +3.1% |
| 2025 | 227.71 million | +2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 99.19 million | 85.97 million | 112.84 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 131.06 million | 115.96 million | 146.82 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 168.98 million | 150.46 million | 189.20 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 210.06 million | 191.46 million | 227.71 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
More education data for Africa Western and Central
- Population ages 0-14 40.9% (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 75.77 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 35.36 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9058 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 56.1% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 2.08 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1455 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Africa Western and Central?
- Labor force, total in Africa Western and Central was 227.71 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 Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 227.71 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 85.97 million in 1990.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for labor force, total?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 34th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central 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.