Labour share of GDP (%) in Africa
Africa: Labour share of GDP (%) was 46.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
46.5%
Change on year
down 0.4%
Rank
24th
of 35 groups
All-time high
48.1%
in 2020
All-time low
41.9%
in 2008
Years of data
22
2004–2025
Labour share of GDP in Africa, 2004–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, labour share of gdp in Africa stood at 46.5%.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and down 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour share of gdp in Africa peaked at 48.1% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 41.9%, in 2008.
That places Africa 24th out of 35 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Labour share of GDP (%) in Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 43.6% | — |
| 2005 | 42.6% | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 42.4% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 42.4% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 41.9% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 43.6% | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 43.4% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 45.1% | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 45.0% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 46.3% | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 47.2% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 47.4% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 46.9% | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 47.4% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 47.1% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 47.7% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 48.1% | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 47.2% | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 46.4% | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 46.6% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 46.7% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 46.5% | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 42.8% | 41.9% | 43.6% | 6 |
| 2010s | 46.4% | 43.4% | 47.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.9% | 46.4% | 48.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa
- 21 Ecuador 58.1% compare
- 22 Luxembourg 57.2% compare
- 23 Denmark 57.1% compare
- 24 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 56.6% compare
- 24 Uruguay 56.6% compare
- 24 United Kingdom 56.6% compare
- 27 Lithuania 56.2% compare
More economy & growth data for Africa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.96 Percent per annum (2028)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4.26 Percent per annum (2028)
- Gross Domestic Product, GDP in millions constant 2021 international $ 10.08 million (2027)
- GDP Deflator — Value US$, 2015 prices, annual growth rate 7.25 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross Fixed Capital Formation Deflator — Value US$, 2015 prices -9.98 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Value US$, annual growth rate 10.34 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Value US$, 2015 prices, annual growth rate 2.89 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross Fixed Capital Formation — Value US$, annual growth rate -6.42 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross Fixed Capital Formation — Value US$, 2015 prices, annual growth 3.95 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross Fixed Capital Formation — Annual growth US$, 2015 prices 3.95 % (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labour share of gdp in Africa?
- Labour share of gdp in Africa was 46.5% in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest labour share of gdp recorded in Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 48.1% in 2020.
- What is the lowest labour share of gdp recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.9% in 2008.
- How does Africa rank for labour share of gdp?
- Africa ranks 24th out of 35 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labour share of gdp rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Labour share of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).