Labor force, female in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Labor force, female was 141.40 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, female in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1990–2025
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division.
Analysis
Africa Eastern and Southern recorded 141.40 million for labor force, female in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 25.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 141.40 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 56.40 million, in 1990.
Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 27th of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, female in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 56.40 million | — |
| 1991 | 58.18 million | +3.2% |
| 1992 | 60.00 million | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 61.69 million | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 63.75 million | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 66.03 million | +3.6% |
| 1996 | 67.96 million | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 69.74 million | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 71.65 million | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 73.78 million | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 75.93 million | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 78.12 million | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 80.46 million | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 82.86 million | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 85.27 million | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 87.75 million | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 90.02 million | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 92.25 million | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 94.57 million | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 96.73 million | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 98.99 million | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 102.35 million | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 103.83 million | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 108.42 million | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 110.14 million | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 112.64 million | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 114.97 million | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 117.11 million | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 119.78 million | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 122.45 million | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 123.80 million | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 127.73 million | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 132.47 million | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 135.36 million | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 137.22 million | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 141.40 million | +3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 64.92 million | 56.40 million | 73.78 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 86.40 million | 75.93 million | 96.73 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 111.07 million | 98.99 million | 122.45 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 133.00 million | 123.80 million | 141.40 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
More gender data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Labor force, female, per capita 0.1792 units per person (2025)
- Labor force, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Labor force, female, annual growth rate 3.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- Labor force, female, per square kilometre 9.11 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-49, female 1.57 per 1,000 uninfected female population ages 15-49 (2024)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-49, male 0.8311 per 1,000 uninfected male population ages 15-49 (2024)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-24, female 1.98 per 1,000 uninfected female population ages 15-24 (2024)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-24, male 0.6099 per 1,000 uninfected male population ages 15-24 (2024)
- Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (% ages 15-24) 131.1% (2025)
- Proportion of women in ministerial level positions 25.9% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Labor force, female in Africa Eastern and Southern was 141.40 million in 2025, according to World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division.
- What is the highest labor force, female recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 141.40 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.40 million in 1990.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for labor force, female?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 27th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division, published as part of Labor force, female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Female labor force comprises women ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.