Inactivity rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Inactivity rate (ILO modelled estimates) was 29.77 in 2027. ▲ Rising
Inactivity rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for inactivity rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa is 29.77, measured in 2027.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, inactivity rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 30.97 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 25.39, in 1995.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 84th of 87 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.
Inactivity rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 25.97 | — |
| 1991 | 25.84 | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 25.68 | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 25.62 | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 25.48 | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 25.39 | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 25.44 | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 25.48 | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 25.55 | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 25.6 | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 25.67 | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 25.74 | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 25.79 | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 25.85 | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 25.91 | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 25.99 | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 26.14 | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 26.32 | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 26.55 | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 26.91 | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 27.28 | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 27.25 | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 27.8 | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 27.46 | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 28.09 | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 28.38 | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 28.66 | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 29.18 | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 29.49 | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 29.79 | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 30.97 | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 30.67 | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 30.12 | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 29.68 | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 29.67 | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 29.71 | +0.1% |
| 2026 | 29.74 | +0.1% |
| 2027 | 29.77 | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25.61 | 25.39 | 25.97 | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.09 | 25.67 | 26.91 | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.34 | 27.25 | 29.79 | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.04 | 29.67 | 30.97 | 8 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More gender data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 552,879 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.42 % change on previous year (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), per capita 0.0004 units per person (2025)
- Labor force, female 247.09 million (2025)
- Labor force, female, per capita 0.187 units per person (2025)
- Labor force, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), per unit of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Labor force, female, per square kilometre 9.83 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), per square 0.0208 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-49, female 1.12 per 1,000 uninfected female population ages 15-49 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is inactivity rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Inactivity rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa was 29.77 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest inactivity rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 30.97 in 2020.
- What is the lowest inactivity rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.39 in 1995.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for inactivity rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 84th out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
- Is inactivity rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Inactivity rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. This indicator conveys the number of persons of working age outside the labour force (that is, not employed or unemployed) expressed as a percentage of the working-age population. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.