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Indicators · People and labour

Labour force participation

Share of people aged 15 and over who are working or looking for work.

Why it matters

Indicates how much of the population is economically active.

Read with care

ILO modelled estimates.

Source

World Bank

% of people 15+. 53 African countries, 1990 to 2025.

Participation: highest in Madagascar, lowest in Eswatini

Labour force participation, % of people 15+. Latest year available, 2025. 15 of 16 countries have data.

60%
70%
80%
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Source: World Bank· Get the data (Professional)·dotzedw Insights Centre

Ranked: participationiWhy it mattersIndicates how much of the population is economically active.

Click a country to highlight it.

0%20%40%60%80%Madagascar85.5%Tanzania83.7%Mozambique78.7%Angola74.8%Botswana68.8%Zimbabwe67.7%DRC64.3%Malawi62.6%Zambia61.9%Namibia58.8%Mauritius58.5%Lesotho57.1%Comoros55.8%South Africa55.6%Eswatini51.2%median 62.6%
dotzedw Insights Centre
How spread out SADC is
Median 62.6%Lowest: Eswatini 51.2%Highest: Madagascar 85.5%

Over time

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Labour force participation against income per person

Each bubble is a SADC country, sized by population. Dashed lines mark the SADC medians. Countries far from the pattern are worth a closer look.

0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%80.0%$1,000$3,000$10kGDP per person, US$ (log scale)ParticipationDRCTanzaniaSouth AfricaAngolaMozambiqueMadagascarMalawiZambia
Source: World Bank, World Bank·dotzedw Insights Centre

Table

The same figures as the map, for screen readers and copying.
RankCountryValueYearFive-year changeGradeDetails
1Madagascar85.5%2025up 0.9 points since 2020A
2Tanzania83.7%2025up 0.9 points since 2020A
3Mozambique78.7%2025up 0.6 points since 2020A
4Angola74.8%2025up 1.5 point since 2020A
5Botswana68.8%2025up 7.5 points since 2020A
6Zimbabwe67.7%2025up 3.1 points since 2020A
7DRC64.3%2025up 0.9 points since 2020A
8Malawi62.6%2025down 5.7 points since 2020A
9Zambia61.9%2025up 1.1 point since 2020A
10Namibia58.8%2025up 2.9 points since 2020A
11Mauritius58.5%2025up 2.8 points since 2020A
12Lesotho57.1%2025little changed since 2020A
13Comoros55.8%2025up 2.3 points since 2020A
14South Africa55.6%2025up 5.0 points since 2020A
15Eswatini51.2%2025up 1.7 point since 2020A
–SeychellesNo recent data