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Nigeria Employment Rate: Historical Labor Data & Trend (1991–2025)

Employment to population (ILO estimates) in Nigeria stood at 80.05% in 2024, according to ILO ILOSTAT. The latest value is up 0.03 percentage points from 80.02% in 2023. Ten years earlier, in 2014, the value was 77.62% (up 2.44 percentage points since). The highest value since 1991 was 80.6% in 1995, the lowest 74.78% in 2020. Nigeria ranked 6th highest of the 181 countries in this dataset in 2024; Qatar ranked first.

Data source: ILO ILOSTAT · Unit: % · Category: Labor and Employment · Explore more indicators on EconDash

Data updated:Last checked:Frequency:AnnualCoverage:1991–2027
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What is Employment to population (ILO estimates)?

Employment to population (ILO estimates), measured in %, reflects labor market conditions in Nigeria, indicating the balance between available workers and job openings. It serves as a crucial signal of economic health, consumer spending capacity, and social stability. Labor market data typically includes multiple dimensions: unemployment rates, employment-to-population ratios, labor force participation, and wage growth. Each metric captures different aspects of job market dynamics — for example, the unemployment rate counts only those actively seeking work, while the participation rate reveals how many working-age people are engaged in the labor market. In Nigeria, labor statistics are gathered through household surveys, employer reports, and administrative records like unemployment benefit claims. Changes in Employment to population (ILO estimates) often precede broader economic shifts: rising unemployment typically signals slowing economic activity, while tightening labor markets may foreshadow wage pressures and inflation.

Metadata for Employment to population (ILO estimates) in Nigeria
IndicatorEmployment to population (ILO estimates)
CountryNigeria
CategoryLabor and Employment
Unit%
SourceILO ILOSTAT
Interactive chartView on EconDash
API accessEconDash API documentation

Current rate: 80.05% (2024)

ILO modelled projection for 2025: 79.99%

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Source:International Labour Organization via ILO ILOSTAT — series EMP_2WAP_SEX_AGE_RT_A
License:CC BY 4.0
Cite this chart
APA

International Labour Organization. (2026). Employment to population (ILO estimates) — Nigeria [Data set]. Retrieved November 13, 2026, from EconDash: https://econdash.org/chart/employment-to-population-ilo-estimates/NGA. Original source: https://rplumber.ilo.org/data/indicator/?id=EMP_2WAP_SEX_AGE_RT_A&lang=en&type=label&format=.csv

MLA

International Labour Organization. "Employment to population (ILO estimates) — Nigeria." EconDash, 2026, https://econdash.org/chart/employment-to-population-ilo-estimates/NGA. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026. Original source: https://rplumber.ilo.org/data/indicator/?id=EMP_2WAP_SEX_AGE_RT_A&lang=en&type=label&format=.csv.

Chicago

International Labour Organization. 2026. "Employment to population (ILO estimates) — Nigeria." EconDash. Accessed November 13, 2026. https://econdash.org/chart/employment-to-population-ilo-estimates/NGA. Original source: https://rplumber.ilo.org/data/indicator/?id=EMP_2WAP_SEX_AGE_RT_A&lang=en&type=label&format=.csv.

BibTeX
@misc{econdash_employment_to_population_ilo_estimates_nga,
  author = {{International Labour Organization}},
  title = {{Employment to population (ILO estimates) --- Nigeria}},
  howpublished = {EconDash},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://econdash.org/chart/employment-to-population-ilo-estimates/NGA},
  note = {Accessed: 2026-11-13. Original source: https://rplumber.ilo.org/data/indicator/?id=EMP\_2WAP\_SEX\_AGE\_RT\_A\&lang=en\&type=label\&format=.csv}
}

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current employment rate in Nigeria?

According to the latest ILO modelled estimates, Nigeria employment-to-population rate stands at 79.99% as of 2025, compared to 80.05% in 2024 and 74.78% in 2020.

Why is Nigeria's employment rate so high (79.99%)?

Under international ILO definitions, employment includes any work performed for pay, profit, or family enterprise for at least one hour per week. In Nigeria, over 85% to 90% of employment is informal, subsistence agricultural, or small-scale retail activity, which elevates the total employment ratio despite shortages of formal salaried jobs.

How does Nigeria rank globally in employment rate?

Nigeria ranks 6th out of 181 countries worldwide with a 79.99% employment rate, placing it among the highest ratios globally alongside economies like Qatar (86.90%), Madagascar (82.89%), and Tanzania (82.40%).

What is the difference between Nigeria's employment rate and unemployment rate?

The employment rate (79.99%) measures the proportion of the working-age population (ages 15+) currently working, whereas the unemployment rate measures only active job-seekers who are completely without work. High employment reflects economic necessity and subsistence labor rather than widespread formal wage jobs.

Explore related Nigeria labor market benchmarks on EconDash: track the Nigeria Unemployment Rate (ILO), monitor Nigeria Youth Unemployment (15–24), and analyze the Nigeria Labor Force Participation Rate.