Labor force, total in Nigeria
Nigeria: Labor force, total was 116.58 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Nigeria, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force, total in Nigeria is 116.58 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.9% on the previous year and up 35.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Nigeria peaked at 116.58 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 43.43 million, in 1990.
Nigeria ranks 5th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 43.43 million | — |
| 1991 | 45.04 million | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 46.74 million | +3.8% |
| 1993 | 48.41 million | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 50.22 million | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 51.81 million | +3.2% |
| 1996 | 53.21 million | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 54.71 million | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 56.23 million | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 57.82 million | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 59.28 million | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 60.77 million | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 62.24 million | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 63.69 million | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 65.22 million | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 66.74 million | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 68.32 million | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 69.98 million | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 71.67 million | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 73.50 million | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 75.28 million | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 77.23 million | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 79.32 million | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 81.30 million | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 83.46 million | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 85.77 million | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 88.26 million | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 90.91 million | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 93.62 million | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 96.34 million | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 97.04 million | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 100.89 million | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 105.27 million | +4.3% |
| 2023 | 110.08 million | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 113.32 million | +2.9% |
| 2025 | 116.58 million | +2.9% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 116.58 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.00 million, 23.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 116.58 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.13 million, 19.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.76 million | 43.43 million | 57.82 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 66.14 million | 59.28 million | 73.50 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 85.15 million | 75.28 million | 96.34 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 107.20 million | 97.04 million | 116.58 million | 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, total in Nigeria?
- Labor force, total in Nigeria was 116.58 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 116.58 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.43 million in 1990.
- How does Nigeria rank for labor force, total?
- Nigeria ranks 5th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.