Labor force, female in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Labor force, female was 105.69 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, female in Africa Western and Central, 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
In 2025, labor force, female in Africa Western and Central stood at 105.69 million. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 35.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in Africa Western and Central peaked at 105.69 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 39.30 million, in 1990.
That places Africa Western and Central 33rd out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it 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 Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 39.30 million | — |
| 1991 | 40.59 million | +3.3% |
| 1992 | 42.00 million | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 43.36 million | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 44.84 million | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 46.22 million | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 47.52 million | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 48.93 million | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 50.35 million | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 51.89 million | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 53.39 million | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 54.91 million | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 56.50 million | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 58.01 million | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 59.61 million | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 61.19 million | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 62.86 million | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 64.57 million | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 66.18 million | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 67.83 million | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 69.53 million | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 71.22 million | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 73.03 million | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 74.64 million | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 76.25 million | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 78.12 million | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 80.19 million | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 82.10 million | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 84.13 million | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 86.28 million | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 87.07 million | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 90.63 million | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 94.23 million | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 99.61 million | +5.7% |
| 2024 | 102.74 million | +3.1% |
| 2025 | 105.69 million | +2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 45.50 million | 39.30 million | 51.89 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.50 million | 53.39 million | 67.83 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 77.55 million | 69.53 million | 86.28 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 96.66 million | 87.07 million | 105.69 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
More gender data for Africa Western and Central
- Labor force, female, per capita 0.1984 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 2.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- Labor force, female, per square kilometre 11.01 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-49, female 0.4972 per 1,000 uninfected female population ages 15-49 (2024)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-49, male 0.2528 per 1,000 uninfected male population ages 15-49 (2024)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-24, female 0.5102 per 1,000 uninfected female population ages 15-24 (2024)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-24, male 0.1669 per 1,000 uninfected male population ages 15-24 (2024)
- Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (% ages 15-24) 123.2% (2025)
- Proportion of women in ministerial level positions 20.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in Africa Western and Central?
- Labor force, female in Africa Western and Central was 105.69 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 Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 105.69 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.30 million in 1990.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for labor force, female?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 33rd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central 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.