Labor force, total in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Labor force, total was 526.96 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force, total in Sub-Saharan Africa is 526.96 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 28.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 526.96 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 207.87 million, in 1990.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 19th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it 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 Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 207.87 million | — |
| 1991 | 214.28 million | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 220.87 million | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 227.47 million | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 234.52 million | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 241.47 million | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 247.87 million | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 254.33 million | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 261.44 million | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 268.95 million | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 276.49 million | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 284.25 million | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 292.29 million | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 300.52 million | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 308.95 million | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 317.51 million | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 325.88 million | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 334.36 million | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 343.00 million | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 351.46 million | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 360.07 million | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 371.02 million | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 379.17 million | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 392.20 million | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 400.29 million | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 410.58 million | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 421.08 million | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 430.59 million | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 442.02 million | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 453.72 million | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 459.88 million | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 475.96 million | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 494.08 million | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 501.35 million | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 511.74 million | +2.1% |
| 2025 | 526.96 million | +3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 237.91 million | 207.87 million | 268.95 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 313.47 million | 276.49 million | 351.46 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 406.08 million | 360.07 million | 453.72 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 495.00 million | 459.88 million | 526.96 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More education data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Population ages 15-64 56.4% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9738 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 196.80 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 40.4% (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1526 units per person (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)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.14 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Labor force, total in Sub-Saharan Africa was 526.96 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 526.96 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 207.87 million in 1990.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for labor force, total?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 19th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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, 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.