Labor force, female in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 247.1 million in 2025, according to World Bank. The latest value is up 3% from 240 million in 2024. Ten years earlier, in 2015, the value was 190.8 million (up 30% since). The latest value is the highest since 1990; the lowest was 95.7 million in 1990.
Data source: World Bank · Category: Demographics · Explore more indicators on EconDash
Labor force, female reflects labor market conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa , 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 , labor statistics are gathered through household surveys, employer reports, and administrative records like unemployment benefit claims. Changes in Labor force, female often precede broader economic shifts: rising unemployment typically signals slowing economic activity, while tightening labor markets may foreshadow wage pressures and inflation.
Labor force, female in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 247.1 million in 2025, according to World Bank.
The latest value is up 3% from 240 million in 2024. Ten years earlier, in 2015, the value was 190.8 million (up 30% since).
The latest value is the highest since 1990; the lowest was 95.7 million in 1990.
| Indicator | Labor force, female |
|---|---|
| Country | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Category | Demographics |
| Source | World Bank |
| Interactive chart | View on EconDash |
| API access | EconDash API documentation |
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World Bank. (2026). Labor force, female — Sub-Saharan Africa [Data set]. Retrieved November 13, 2026, from EconDash: https://econdash.org/chart/wdi-sl-tlf-totl-fe-in/SSF. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.TOTL.FE.IN
World Bank. "Labor force, female — Sub-Saharan Africa ." EconDash, 2026, https://econdash.org/chart/wdi-sl-tlf-totl-fe-in/SSF. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.TOTL.FE.IN.
World Bank. 2026. "Labor force, female — Sub-Saharan Africa ." EconDash. Accessed November 13, 2026. https://econdash.org/chart/wdi-sl-tlf-totl-fe-in/SSF. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.TOTL.FE.IN.
@misc{econdash_wdi_sl_tlf_totl_fe_in_ssf,
author = {{World Bank}},
title = {{Labor force, female --- Sub-Saharan Africa }},
howpublished = {EconDash},
year = {2026},
url = {https://econdash.org/chart/wdi-sl-tlf-totl-fe-in/SSF},
note = {Accessed: 2026-11-13. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.TOTL.FE.IN}
}Browse indicators available for Sub-Saharan Africa . Click any indicator to view its interactive chart, compare with other countries, and download historical data.
| Demographics | 31 indicators |
|---|---|
| Healthcare | 35 indicators |
| Macroeconomics | 87 indicators |
| Education | 8 indicators |
| Commodities and Energy | 75 indicators |
| Technology and Internet | 7 indicators |
| Transport and Logistics | 14 indicators |
| Labor and Employment | 24 indicators |
| Financial Markets | 9 indicators |
| Total indicators | 290 |