Labor force, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) stood at 527 million persons in 2025, according to World Bank. The latest value is up 3% from 511.7 million persons in 2024. Ten years earlier, in 2015, the value was 410.6 million persons (up 28% since). The latest value is the highest since 1990; the lowest was 207.9 million persons in 1990.
Data source: World Bank · Unit: persons · Category: Labor and Employment · Explore more indicators on EconDash
Labor force, total, measured in persons, reflects labor market conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 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 Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), labor statistics are gathered through household surveys, employer reports, and administrative records like unemployment benefit claims. Changes in Labor force, total often precede broader economic shifts: rising unemployment typically signals slowing economic activity, while tightening labor markets may foreshadow wage pressures and inflation.
Labor force, total in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) stood at 527 million persons in 2025, according to World Bank.
The latest value is up 3% from 511.7 million persons in 2024. Ten years earlier, in 2015, the value was 410.6 million persons (up 28% since).
The latest value is the highest since 1990; the lowest was 207.9 million persons in 1990.
| Indicator | Labor force, total |
|---|---|
| Country | Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) |
| Category | Labor and Employment |
| Unit | persons |
| Source | World Bank |
| Interactive chart | View on EconDash |
| API access | EconDash API documentation |
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World Bank. (2026). Labor force, total — Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) [Data set]. Retrieved November 13, 2026, from EconDash: https://econdash.org/chart/labor-force-total/TSS. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.TOTL.IN
World Bank. "Labor force, total — Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)." EconDash, 2026, https://econdash.org/chart/labor-force-total/TSS. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.TOTL.IN.
World Bank. 2026. "Labor force, total — Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)." EconDash. Accessed November 13, 2026. https://econdash.org/chart/labor-force-total/TSS. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.TOTL.IN.
@misc{econdash_labor_force_total_tss,
author = {{World Bank}},
title = {{Labor force, total --- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA \& IBRD countries)}},
howpublished = {EconDash},
year = {2026},
url = {https://econdash.org/chart/labor-force-total/TSS},
note = {Accessed: 2026-11-13. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.TOTL.IN}
}Browse indicators available for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries). Click any indicator to view its interactive chart, compare with other countries, and download historical data.
| Demographics | 30 indicators |
|---|---|
| Healthcare | 34 indicators |
| Macroeconomics | 84 indicators |
| Education | 8 indicators |
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| Technology and Internet | 6 indicators |
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| Labor and Employment | 23 indicators |
| Financial Markets | 9 indicators |
| Total indicators | 278 |