Labor force participation rate, ages 15-64 in Africa Western and Central stood at 73.29% in 2025, according to World Bank. The latest value is down 0.1 percentage points from 73.38% in 2024. Ten years earlier, in 2015, the value was 74.02% (down 0.73 percentage points since). The highest value since 1990 was 77.69% in 1994, the lowest 71.69% in 2020.
Data source: World Bank · Unit: % · Category: Labor and Employment · Explore more indicators on EconDash
Labor force participation rate, ages 15-64, measured in %, reflects labor market conditions in Africa Western and Central, 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 Africa Western and Central, labor statistics are gathered through household surveys, employer reports, and administrative records like unemployment benefit claims. Changes in Labor force participation rate, ages 15-64 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 rate, ages 15-64 in Africa Western and Central stood at 73.29% in 2025, according to World Bank.
The latest value is down 0.1 percentage points from 73.38% in 2024. Ten years earlier, in 2015, the value was 74.02% (down 0.73 percentage points since).
The highest value since 1990 was 77.69% in 1994, the lowest 71.69% in 2020.
| Indicator | Labor force participation rate, ages 15-64 |
|---|---|
| Country | Africa Western and Central |
| Category | Labor and Employment |
| Unit | % |
| Source | World Bank |
| Interactive chart | View on EconDash |
| API access | EconDash API documentation |
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World Bank. (2026). Labor force participation rate, ages 15-64 — Africa Western and Central [Data set]. Retrieved November 13, 2026, from EconDash: https://econdash.org/chart/labor-force-participation-rate/AFW. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.ACTI.ZS
World Bank. "Labor force participation rate, ages 15-64 — Africa Western and Central." EconDash, 2026, https://econdash.org/chart/labor-force-participation-rate/AFW. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.ACTI.ZS.
World Bank. 2026. "Labor force participation rate, ages 15-64 — Africa Western and Central." EconDash. Accessed November 13, 2026. https://econdash.org/chart/labor-force-participation-rate/AFW. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.ACTI.ZS.
@misc{econdash_labor_force_participation_rate_afw,
author = {{World Bank}},
title = {{Labor force participation rate, ages 15-64 --- Africa Western and Central}},
howpublished = {EconDash},
year = {2026},
url = {https://econdash.org/chart/labor-force-participation-rate/AFW},
note = {Accessed: 2026-11-13. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.ACTI.ZS}
}Browse indicators available for Africa Western and Central. Click any indicator to view its interactive chart, compare with other countries, and download historical data.
| Demographics | 28 indicators |
|---|---|
| Healthcare | 33 indicators |
| Macroeconomics | 76 indicators |
| Education | 7 indicators |
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| Labor and Employment | 28 indicators |
| Financial Markets | 9 indicators |
| Total indicators | 272 |