Labor force participation (ILO estimates) in Nigeria stood at 82.57% in 2024, according to ILO ILOSTAT. The latest value is up 0.01 percentage points from 82.56% in 2023. Ten years earlier, in 2014, the value was 80.77% (up 1.8 percentage points since). The highest value since 1990 was 84.1% in 1995, the lowest 79.31% in 2020. Nigeria ranked 5th 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
Labor force participation (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 Labor force participation (ILO estimates) often precede broader economic shifts: rising unemployment typically signals slowing economic activity, while tightening labor markets may foreshadow wage pressures and inflation.
Labor force participation (ILO estimates) in Nigeria stood at 82.57% in 2024, according to ILO ILOSTAT.
The latest value is up 0.01 percentage points from 82.56% in 2023. Ten years earlier, in 2014, the value was 80.77% (up 1.8 percentage points since).
Nigeria ranked 5th highest of the 181 countries in this dataset in 2024; Qatar ranked first.
The highest value since 1990 was 84.1% in 1995, the lowest 79.31% in 2020.
| Indicator | Labor force participation (ILO estimates) |
|---|---|
| Country | Nigeria |
| Category | Labor and Employment |
| Unit | % |
| Source | ILO ILOSTAT |
| Interactive chart | View on EconDash |
| API access | EconDash API documentation |
ILO modelled projection for 2025: 82.52%
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International Labour Organization. (2026). Labor force participation (ILO estimates) — Nigeria [Data set]. Retrieved November 13, 2026, from EconDash: https://econdash.org/chart/labor-force-participation-ilo-estimates/NGA. Original source: https://rplumber.ilo.org/data/indicator/?id=EAP_2WAP_SEX_AGE_RT_A&lang=en&type=label&format=.csv
International Labour Organization. "Labor force participation (ILO estimates) — Nigeria." EconDash, 2026, https://econdash.org/chart/labor-force-participation-ilo-estimates/NGA. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026. Original source: https://rplumber.ilo.org/data/indicator/?id=EAP_2WAP_SEX_AGE_RT_A&lang=en&type=label&format=.csv.
International Labour Organization. 2026. "Labor force participation (ILO estimates) — Nigeria." EconDash. Accessed November 13, 2026. https://econdash.org/chart/labor-force-participation-ilo-estimates/NGA. Original source: https://rplumber.ilo.org/data/indicator/?id=EAP_2WAP_SEX_AGE_RT_A&lang=en&type=label&format=.csv.
@misc{econdash_labor_force_participation_ilo_estimates_nga,
author = {{International Labour Organization}},
title = {{Labor force participation (ILO estimates) --- Nigeria}},
howpublished = {EconDash},
year = {2026},
url = {https://econdash.org/chart/labor-force-participation-ilo-estimates/NGA},
note = {Accessed: 2026-11-13. Original source: https://rplumber.ilo.org/data/indicator/?id=EAP\_2WAP\_SEX\_AGE\_RT\_A\&lang=en\&type=label\&format=.csv}
}Browse indicators available for Nigeria. Click any indicator to view its interactive chart, compare with other countries, and download historical data.
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