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Countries in Africa Ranked by Labour force participation rate (2025)

Labour force participation rate: each country's latest value (2020–2025), ranked from highest to lowest. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).

Summary

Madagascar ranks #1 with 85.5% of population 15+. Tanzania is second with 83.7% of population 15+, 2.1% behind. The top five are Madagascar, Tanzania, Nigeria, Uganda and Niger. The median across all 53 is 61.9% of population 15+; São Tomé and Principe is last at 23.3% of population 15+. Madagascar's figure has fallen 1% since 2001 (86.4% of population 15+ to 85.5% of population 15+ in 2025).

#1
Madagascar · 85.5% of population 15+
Median
61.9% of population 15+
Coverage
53 countries in Africa
Data year
2025
Last updated
2026-11-14
Top 10: Labour force participation rateBar chart of the top 10: 1. Madagascar 85.5; 2. Tanzania 83.7; 3. Nigeria 82.5; 4. Uganda 80; 5. Niger 79.7; 6. Mozambique 78.7; 7. Eritrea 78.3; 8. Burundi 78.3; 9. Liberia 76.6; 10. Benin 76.4.Madagascar85.5Tanzania83.7Nigeria82.5Uganda80Niger79.7Mozambique78.7Eritrea78.3Burundi78.3Liberia76.6Benin76.4
Top 10: Labour force participation rate (% of population 15+). Bar chart of the top 10: 1. Madagascar 85.5; 2. Tanzania 83.7; 3. Nigeria 82.5; 4. Uganda 80; 5. Niger 79.7; 6. Mozambique 78.7; 7. Eritrea 78.3; 8. Burundi 78.3; 9. Liberia 76.6; 10. Benin 76.4.
Labour force participation rate over time, top 5Madagascar: 86.4 in 2001 to 85.5 in 2025; Tanzania: 86.4 in 2001 to 83.7 in 2025; Nigeria: 83.2 in 2001 to 82.5 in 2025; Uganda: 74.3 in 2001 to 80 in 2025; Niger: 79.1 in 2001 to 79.7 in 2025.022.144.266.388.3200120132025MadagascarTanzaniaNigeriaUgandaNiger
Labour force participation rate over time, top 5 (% of population 15+). Madagascar: 86.4 in 2001 to 85.5 in 2025; Tanzania: 86.4 in 2001 to 83.7 in 2025; Nigeria: 83.2 in 2001 to 82.5 in 2025; Uganda: 74.3 in 2001 to 80 in 2025; Niger: 79.1 in 2001 to 79.7 in 2025.

Full ranking

Countries in Africa Ranked by Labour force participation rate, 2025
RankCountryLabour force participation rate (% of population 15+)Year
1Madagascar85.52025
2Tanzania83.72025
3Nigeria82.52025
4Uganda802025
5Niger79.72025
6Mozambique78.72025
7Eritrea78.32025
8Burundi78.32025
9Liberia76.62025
10Benin76.42025
11Angola74.82025
12South Sudan73.42023
13Central African Republic73.42025
14Burkina Faso702025
15Botswana68.82025
16Ethiopia68.52025
17Congo, Rep.67.82025
18Zimbabwe67.72025
19Kenya67.42025
20Côte d'Ivoire67.12025
21Mali672025
22Cameroon65.22025
23Guinea-Bissau64.82025
24Congo, Dem. Rep.64.32025
25Rwanda63.72025
26Malawi62.62025
27Zambia61.92025
28Equatorial Guinea60.52025
29Chad59.42025
30Namibia58.82025
31Mauritius58.52025
32Ghana58.52025
33Togo57.82025
34Lesotho57.12025
35Cabo Verde572025
36Comoros55.82025
37South Africa55.62025
38Sierra Leone53.42025
39Guinea52.62025
40Senegal522025
41Eswatini51.22025
42Gabon51.12025
43Libya482025
44Gambia, The47.52025
45Tunisia45.22025
46Egypt, Arab Rep.44.62025
47Morocco43.92025
48Algeria40.82025
49Mauritania40.82025
50Sudan37.52022
51Somalia, Fed. Rep.33.82025
52Djibouti31.72025
53São Tomé and Principe23.32025

About the top 10

Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.

Related rankings

Source and method

Labour force participation rate: each country's latest value (2020–2025), ranked from highest to lowest.

Source: The World Bank, indicator SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.

The World Bank: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate): ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO) (via World Development Indicators)

Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Values are shown as published. Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.