Employed population below international poverty line, by sex and age in Africa
Africa: Employed population below international poverty line, by sex and age was 35.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employed population below international poverty line, by sex and age in Africa, 2000–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2025, employed population below international poverty line, by sex and age in Africa stood at 35.6%. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.7% on the previous year and down 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employed population below international poverty line, by sex and age in Africa peaked at 52.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 35.6%, in 2025.
Africa ranks 5th of 33 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Employed population below international poverty line, by sex and age in Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 52.8% | — |
| 2001 | 52.0% | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 51.6% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 50.6% | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 47.7% | -5.7% |
| 2005 | 46.4% | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 45.0% | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 43.8% | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 42.6% | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 41.8% | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 40.6% | -3.0% |
| 2011 | 39.3% | -3.1% |
| 2012 | 38.0% | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 37.5% | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 36.6% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 36.7% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 36.7% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 36.6% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 36.4% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 36.2% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 38.0% | +5.0% |
| 2021 | 37.8% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 37.1% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 36.5% | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 36.2% | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 35.6% | -1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 47.4% | 41.8% | 52.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.5% | 36.2% | 40.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.9% | 35.6% | 38.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa
- 2 Honduras 12.9% compare
- 3 Tajikistan 12.1% compare
- 4 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 7.2% compare
- 5 Bangladesh 7.0% compare
- 6 Peru 6.9% compare
- 7 Indonesia 6.4% compare
- 8 Ecuador 4.8% compare
More poverty & inequality data for Africa
Frequently asked questions
- What is employed population below international poverty line, by sex and age in Africa?
- Employed population below international poverty line, by sex and age in Africa was 35.6% in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest employed population below international poverty line, by sex and age recorded in Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 52.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest employed population below international poverty line, by sex and age recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.6% in 2025.
- How does Africa rank for employed population below international poverty line, by sex and age?
- Africa ranks 5th out of 33 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employed population below international poverty line, by sex and age rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Employed population below international poverty line, by sex and age (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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